THE SADDLE BREEDS OF HORSES 127 
ribbed well back and quite as large around the last rib as 
at the girth. The horse is strong across the kidneys and 
the coupling is powerful. The quarters are level, strongly 
muscled and long from the point of the hip to the hock. 
The tail comes out well up, is carried high, and is heavy, 
long and flowing. The body is set on comparatively 
short legs. The bone of the leg is broad, flat and closely 
knit, and the tendons strong. The fore-arm is powerfully 
muscled and the fore-legs straight. The hind-leg is not 
so straight as in the Thoroughbred, and is well muscled. 
The legs are short from knee and hock to ankle. The 
pasterns are a little long and sloping. The feet are hard 
but elastic, heels well spread and well developed. The 
average height of the Saddle horse is about fifteen hands 
two inches, and the weight approximately 1000 pounds. 
140. The saddle horse in motion. — The methcds of 
educating the saddle horse would carry us too far afield, 
but we may consider the motion of the educated horse. 
Beautiful as this horse is, he must be seen in motion to be 
appreciated. 
141. The flat-footed walk should be prompt, brisk, 
elastic, ‘‘ dead in line” and fast. Speed is important and 
should be equal to at least three and a half miles an hour. 
Horses will occasionally be found that will walk at the rate 
of four and a half miles an hour, but the lower estimate 
is good walking. It may generally be assumed that a 
horse is walking properly if all four shoes may be seen from 
behind him, and the feet on the same side are in line. 
142. The trot should be true, “ dead in line,” well under 
the horse, balanced, prompt and with both shoulder and 
stifle put well into the motion. Unless the shoulder is 
put well into the motion, the mere play of knees yields a 
racking, uncomfortable ride. Unless the stifle is brought 
