46 THE HORSE. 



will do very well with a short hmnems moderately 

 slanted. If his shoulder-points were very high, he could 

 not easily throw his weight into the collar; and on 

 the other hand, it is not by any means desu-able that his 

 leg should be thrown far back from his counter by a 

 long, horizontal humeras. One of a moderate length, 

 and a little sloped, will answer him best. 



A long, well-slanted scapula, and a tolerably long, 

 well-slanted humeras, must of necessity foiin a deep 

 and elastic shoulder, whilst the leg ^dll be favourably 

 placed in reference to the weight it is destined to carry. 

 Whatever opinion may be foimed, however, as to the 

 advantages of a long or a short humerus, all will agree 

 on this point — it is necessary to have the points of the 

 shoulder hght, if we wish the horse to be kept without 

 broken knees. The leg must not, under any circum- 

 stances, be placed at a gi-eat distance from the front of 

 the counter ; nor should it, on the other hand, be brought 

 very far forward. A medium position is decidedly the 

 best, as that will insm-e a favourable leverage with a 

 moderate weight. 



The muscles which move the shoulder should be large, 

 long and powerful in every description of horse. To this 

 there can be no exception. They should even be strong 

 and thick on the Avithers, and on the top of the shoul- 

 der-blade, in the roadster, hunter, and racer. If there 

 is plenty of substance in this locality, there will surely 

 be a proportional strength in the shoulders, and con- 



