THE LIGHT HARNESS TYPE 41 



light shoulder is able to raise the fore limb and advance it more 

 easily than with the more upright shoulder. Thickness or fullness 

 of shoulder, especially about the withers, is very undesirable in a 

 horse of this type, resulting in an indifferent gait. 



The arms and forearms of the light harness horse should be 

 reasonably muscular, not like those of a draft horse, but as indicat- 

 ing strength of action. Especially should the muscles back of the 

 forearms be well developed, as they are brought into active use 

 in raising the fore leg. 



The cannons of the light harness horse are usually lean and 

 show the skin, type of bone, and ligaments very clearly. A short, 

 clean, smooth cannon with the tendons carried well back and 

 parallel with the bone are prime features of the horse with rapid 

 gait. Long cannon bones are undesirable, for they lack the 

 strength of the shorter ones. Great emphasis is placed on the 

 cannons being clean and smooth, with no roughness or evidence 

 of bone disease. 



The pasterns of the light harness horse should be comparatively 

 long, smooth, and strongly carried at an angle of about 45 degrees. 

 The shoulders and pasterns have much work to do in common, and 

 the pastern that is long and springy will bear concussion much 

 better than a short one. The long pastern allows for a greater 

 movement of the fetlock joint, an essential if speed is desired. 



The foot of the light harness horse should be of medium size, 

 wide at the heel, not too low set at this point, and have a well- 

 developed frog and strong bars. The length of the heel should 

 be about one third the length of the front of the hoof. 



The body of the light harness horse should have a greater rel- 

 ative depth than breadth. A front view gives a greater degree 

 of narrowness than obtains with the draft horse. A noted English 

 authority, Hayes, states that he is convinced that a race horse 

 cannot be too narrow in front. The high elevation of the withers 

 and their lean, long appearance add to the general effect of the 

 depth of body. Light harness horses often appear to lack girth, 

 or are termed " light waisted." Some of the most famous trotters 

 and pacers have certainly had this appearance accentuated by 

 high flanks. The back should be strong, well carried, with a 

 wide, muscular loin. Digitized by Microsoft® 



