CHAPTER III 



PROPORTIONS AND MECHANICS OF THE 

 HORSE 



^ By proportions of the horse are meant the correlation 

 and the agreement of the various parts with each other 

 and with the body as a whole. The parts of the horse 

 when studied in the light of proportions show us rela- 

 tions of length, width, thickness, direction, development 

 and the like. This detailed study of the relationship of 

 the various parts is very efficient in developing the "eye" 

 and the judgment. 



The proportions of the horse are considered from two 

 points of view. First, the relations existing between the 

 length, width and thickness of the various parts of the 

 horse; and second, the relations of the directions pos- 

 sessed by the bones superposed one upon the other, thus 

 forming angles. These relations tend to make the legs 

 long or short and have an influence upon the production 

 of speed or power. 



Dimensions of the parts. — To study the relation exist- 

 ing between the various parts of the horse, we must first 

 obtain the dimensions of the parts. The lengths, widths, 

 thicknesses, and the like, are taken with a measuring 

 staff of parallel bars, the circumference with a tape and 

 the angles and inclinations with a compass and plumb 

 line, although for accurate results in measuring the angles 

 an arthrogoniometer should be used. This is an instru- 

 ment somewhat similar to a compass. The following 

 list includes the more important parts useful in a study 

 of the proportions of the horse: 



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