b THE TRUNK OR CARCASE. 



should have a head and neck neither too light 

 nor too heavy. The advantage of a heavy head 

 and neck to a draught horse, is illustrated by the 

 practice of some carters putting a boy on the 

 shoulder of a horse, when starting a load in deep 

 ground. By enabling him to throw the boy' 

 weight besides his own into the collar, it assists 

 him materially. 



The Trunk or Carcase. 



That the saddle horse may be safe and have 

 extensive action, it is necessary that the withers 

 be high. This advantage is indicated by the 

 horse standing well up before ; and it is usual in 

 showing a horse to exaggerate the height of the 

 forehand, by making him stand with his fore feet 

 on a somewhat elevated spot. A horse with 

 low withers appears thick and cloddy about the 

 shoulder. In the ass and mule, the withers are 

 very low, and the shoulders very flat, and this 

 is the reason why they are so unpleasant to ride, 

 and why it is next to impossible to keep the 

 saddle in its proper place without the aid of a 

 crupper. High withers, however, are not essen- 



