THE SADDLE TYPE OP HORSE 163 



carriage is also highly characteristic of this type. Shows 

 of gaited saddlers iu Kentucky and Missouri, where large 

 classes con^p together, are exhibitions of quality, style and 

 finish beyond compare. 



The neck is a rather distinctive feature, being long, 

 supple and slightly arched, and carried neither high nor low, 

 yet with distinct grace. A sensitive relationship exists 

 between the mouth, neck and reins. A long, supple neck 

 between the rider's reins, furnishes in the process of guid- 

 ance a more flexible connecting link between mouth and 

 hand, than a short, stiff neck. Three points are given to 

 the neck of the saddle horse as compared with two for the 

 light harness horse. 



The shoulders of the saddle horse should be long and 

 sloping, yet muscular. The long, oblique shoulder is a 

 necessity, to secure an easy gait, and saddle horse authori- 

 ties emphasize its importance, and three points instead of 

 two, as with the light harness type, are assigned this part 

 in the scale of points. 



The body of the saddle horse should be moderately short, 

 deep and not too wide. It should be nicely turned, 

 strongly carried, and free of sag of back and weakness of 

 loins. There has been some tendency with the American 

 saddle horse to a lower carriage of back than is altogether 

 desirable. A neat yet not wide arch of rib is important in 

 a good saddle back, but sag of back is quite undesirable 

 inasmuch as this part of the horse must be able to sustain 

 a weight of at least 160 pounds. 



The croup of the saddle horse is one of its noteworthy 

 features. As expressed in the scale of points, it should be 

 long, level, round and smooth. The long, strong muscling 

 of the hindquarters bespeaks a well supported back, and 

 is related to a leg development behind that indicates power- 

 ful action, and the capacity to get over the ground with 

 ease. A side view shows the croup carried out with slight 

 downward curve, or having what is often termed a level 

 carriage. From the rear the croup is neatly rounded over 



