THE HORSEMAN. O 



depend more upon the obliquity of the shoulders than the 

 bulk of muscle. 



Horses of action, therefore, have oblique or slanting 

 shoulders, those for draught upright and muscular ones. 



The elbow joint being the centre of motion, it is im- 

 portant that the distance from that point to the withers 

 should be great, as the whole of the lower part of the 

 leg is to be raised. 



This action is on the principle of the lever. It will 

 appear obvious to the reader that, in proportion as the 

 weight is more-distant from the centre of motion, the 

 greater degree of energy must be exerted to raise it 

 likewise, that the greatest advantage is derived when the 

 power is applied in a line perpendicular to the arm ot 

 the lever. A deep elbow, therefore, indicates power of 

 action. 



The arm should be long and muscular, for in propor- 

 tion to the length of muscle is the degree of contraction 

 of which it is capable ; and in proportion to the degree 

 of contraction of muscle will be the extent of motion in 

 the part of the limb beneath. This formation is indis- 

 pensable in the racer and hunter. 



A horse with a short arm will be found deficient in 

 stride. 



As it is essential for the haunch-bones to be oblique 

 for the more advantageous action of the muscles, it is 

 necessary to look for depth of hip, by drawing a line 

 from the loins to the point of buttock. The strength of 

 these parts (as in the shoulder) consists more in the 

 2* 



