48 THE HORSE. 



thickness is not caused bj a projection of the shoul- 

 der-blade as far upwards as the top of the withers. 

 This happens in some cases, and it is a most indubitable 

 fault. In every case, the withers ought to be higher 

 than the top of the scapula. 



The shoulder-blade shoidd terminate about the same 

 point in all horses, although the height of the withers 

 must vary in different cases. The difference in the 

 height must depend altogether upon the length of 

 those spinous projections which form the withers. 

 The heavy draught-horse, as well as the racer, ought 

 to have the withers considerably higher than the top 

 of the scapula. The harness-horse, hunter and road- 

 ster, must have them far higher still. But whether 

 they require to be long or short, they must be supplied 

 with powerful muscles, and these muscles ought to fill 

 up the space on each side of the spine so well that the 

 tops of the shoulder-blades would appear to be lost 

 in their substance. The shoulder, at this point, should 

 be thick from muscular development, yet even and 

 smooth. 



THE FORE-LEG. 



Perhaps the majority of those who undertake to 

 judge the horse will estimate the strength of his fore- 

 leg almost exclusively by the amount of substance 

 which he possesses under the knee. This however is a 

 mistake, as the part of primary importance is undoubt- 



