FORM. 85 



obliquity of the scapula, enables the rider to sit 

 considerably behind, instead of nearly over the fore- 

 legs, or pillars of support, which, on a short and 

 upright-shouldered horse, he must do. One remark, 

 however, must be made respecting the oblique shoul- 

 der. It is sometimes not sufficiently supplied with 

 muscle, with which the upright shoulder generally 

 abounds. We therefore recommend purchasers of 

 young horses for hunters, to give the preference to 

 what may appear coarse shoulders, nay, even in- 

 clined to be somewhat round, or flat on the withers, 

 provided they are accompanied by the necessary 

 and absolutely essential obliquity of the shoulder- 

 bones. 



The setting on of the arm, which should be 

 strong, muscular, and long, is of much importance 

 to a hunter. By the length of this part in the 

 hare, as we have already observed, added to the 

 obliquity of her shoulder, she can extend her fore- 

 parts farther than any animal of her size : in fact, 

 she strikes nearly as far as the greyhound that pur- 

 sues her, by the help of this lever. The proper po- 

 sition of the arm of the horse, however, is the re- 

 sult of an oblique shoulder. When issuing out of 

 an upright shoulder, the elbow joint, the centre of 

 motion here, will be inclined inward ; the horse 

 will be what is termed " pinn'd in his elbows," 

 which causes his legs to fall powerless behind his 

 body ; and he is seldom able to go well in deep 

 ground. There are exceptions, but they are rare. 

 A full and swelling fore-arm is one of the most 

 valuable points in a horse, for whatsoever purposes 



