50 THE HORSE. 



in extending and flexingthe footandknee, are situated on 

 the arm, it must follow that the strength of the arm is a 

 matter of primary importance. Let any person take 

 the trouble of gi-asping his left arm below the elbow, 

 with his right hand, whilst the left hand is opened and 

 closed, and he will be fully satisfied that he gi'asps the 

 muscles which flex and extend the fingers. This fact 

 will at once show him it would be quite ridiculous to 

 imagine that a strong shoulder and wrist could make 

 amends for a defective development of these muscles, 

 simply because they do not perform the same duty. So 

 is it with the horse. It is absm'd to lay such extraor- 

 dinary stress on the thickness of the leg, whilst the 

 condition of the arm is entirely overlooked. The one 

 cannot do the duty of the other, and, consequently, they 

 should both be as perfect as possible. 



It has been well remarked by Mr. Youatt, that " what- 

 ever other good points the animal may possess, if the 

 arm is naiTOw in front and near the shoulder, flat on the 

 side, and altogether deficient in muscular appearance, 

 that horse is radically defective. He can neither 

 raise his knee for rapid action, nor throw his leg suf- 

 ficiently forward." 



The ai-m should be very broad at its junction mth 

 the body, for the purpose of affording an extensive 

 basis for the attachment of muscles. The projection 

 of bone called the elbow, which can easily be felt at 

 the back part of the top of the arm, demands special 



