6 THE HORSEMAN. 



advantageous direction of the bones than in the bulk of 

 muscle. 



The action of these bones is also on the principle of 

 the lever ; consequently, it becomes important to select 

 a horse with a deep and long quarter ; the shorter the 

 leg below the hock, the less muscular exertion is required 

 to raise it. 



The distance from the stifle joint to the point of but- 

 tock, and from the latter point to the hip or haunch- 

 bone, cannot be too great. 



The stifle joint should be on a vertical line with the 

 haunch or round-bone. 



To illustrate the action of the fore and hind quarters 

 more fully, the following figure will represent the 

 shoulder-blade and shoulder-bone, which form an angle, 

 thus : 



By applying a force at A and B, the extremities can 

 be brought together with less exertion than if applied at 

 C and D ; hence it is that the points of the shoulder- 

 blade (A) and the elbow (B) are further from the point 

 of the shoulder (E) in horses of action and speed than in 

 the common draught horse. 



The longer these bones are, and the greater the 



