THE CONFORMATION OF THE HORSE 53 



able leverage is also necessary for these various 

 attachments in controlling the movements of the 

 fore-limb. 



A horse with high withers is usually an easy 

 ride ; but low withers, generally associated with 

 straight shoulders, are more often than not an 

 indication of the reverse. 



The Chest. — The chest should be of good 

 depth and fairly broad, in order that the vital 

 organs placed within may have plenty of scope 

 to perform their functions. Narrow-chested 

 horses are, as a rule, bad stayers ; but whilst a 

 fair amount of breadth is very desirable, a very 

 broad-chested horse is, as a rule, an uncomfort- 

 able mount, the animal usually having an 

 unsteady, rolling action, but for harness purposes 

 this is. of course, immaterial. 



The Shoulders. — Should the horse be required 

 for riding purposes, a thick, heavy and straight 

 shoulder is to be avoided, for an animal so con- 

 stituted is unfit for riding, as he not only gives 

 the rider an uncomfortable motion, but cannot 

 extend his shoulders and get away well at the 

 canter and gallop. A horse with a shoulder 



7 



