62 FORM AND ACTION. 



constantly while in action, and even while standing still, he must 

 have been in danger of falling, from his legs " slipping under 

 him :" for the standing posture is only surely maintained by the 

 continued action of the muscles implanted into the elbow. 



Having considered the arm in relation to the connexion sub- 

 sisting between the shoulder and it, to the leverage it offers by the 

 projection of the elbow, and to its form and substance, let us now 

 view it in reference to its length, and to the position it has in respect 

 to the body, and afterwards proceed to the examination of the knee 

 and leg. 



A LONG ARM is held to be a point of excellence : it is one of 

 the characteristics of speed ; the deer, the greyhound, the fox, the 

 rabbit and hare, have all of them long arms. It also denotes strength. 

 A long arm includes the supposition of a short leg or cannon ; and 

 shortness in a bone which simply acts as a prop of support, is a sign 

 of strength ; hence the lower we descend in the limb, the shorter 

 we find the bones : thus, the cannon is shorter than the arm ; the 

 pastern than the cannon ; the coronet than the pastern; the objects 

 being strength, and, as much as possible, the mitigation of con- 

 cussion. The arm, it is true, likewise constitutes a shaft of sup- 

 port ; but, then, it is on every side surrounded by muscle, from 

 which it must receive considerable sustainment: whereas, the 

 bones below the knee are without any active or vital embrace ; 

 are, in fact, left without any support and protection, save what little 

 they derive from tendon and ligament. Again, the arm being the 

 moving power, the leg, the part to be moved, length and substance 

 in the former contrast advantageously with shortness and compact- 

 ness in the latter : every inch added to the leg increases the weight 

 of the shaft to be raised and projected, and calls for additional power 

 in the propelling agent. And again, length of arm will give the 

 horse advantage in action : every step he takes in a walk or trot, 

 will, from the greater reach of the arm forwards, prove so much 

 gained to him ; and these gains, though insignificant of themselves, 

 may in the course of a mile turn out something considerable. . 



Should the arm be short, though it be muscular and strong, yet 

 will its power tell to comparatively less effect when the cannons 

 are long, and from that circumstance alone proportionally weak : 

 horses so made are absolutely weaker — less stable — upon their fore 



