32 



MANAGEMENT AND BREEDING OF HORSES 



Inclination of the Parts Upon the Horizon and Value 

 OF THE Articular Angles in Fast Horses* 



* The Exterior of the Horse. Goubaux and Barrier, page 377. 

 t For location of the parts see page 35. 



Mechanics of the horse. — A study of the mechanics of 

 the horse enables us to compare the horse with a machine. 

 A machine may be defined as a combination of one or 

 more of the six mechanical powers — lever, wheel and 

 axle, pulley, inclined plane, wedge and screw — arranged 

 in such a manner as to transmit power in a desired direc- 

 tion. In a somewhat similar manner the bones and 

 muscles of the horse are combined in such a way as to 

 constitute a prime mover, also capable of transmitting 

 power in a desired direction. In the horse as in the 

 machine power is gained at the expense of speed, and 

 speed is gained at the expense of power. 



In the draft horse power is obtained in two ways : By 

 the weight of the animal and by propulsion through the 

 hind legs, body and shoulders. In the light horse speed 

 is obtained in three ways : By the long reach of the legs, 

 by propulsion and by leaping. In the light horse the 

 muscles have a tendency to parallel the bones, thus giving 



