FORE LEGS IN SADDLE AND DRAUGHT, i8t 



To raise the fore hand effectively, we require, as I have 

 just said, obliquity of shoulder-blade and pastern, so as to 

 favour the straightening of the limb (p. 51). 



From the foregoing observations we may see that the 

 conformation most suitable to one function of the fore limb 

 may differ essentially from that best adapted to other offices 

 performed by it. Consequently, the conformation to be 

 sought for in the fore limb of a horse will be the best 

 possible combination of somewhat conflicting elements. 



Fore Legs in Saddle and Draught. — In draught, 

 whether light or heavy, the pace is practically confined to the 

 walk, trot, and, in rare cases, to the amble, in none of which 

 is the function of raising the fore hand tested to anything like 

 the same extent as in the canter, gallop, and, particularly, in 

 jumping. Hence the saddle-horse, and especially the hunter, 

 requires a lighter fore hand and greater power of flexing and 

 extending the joints of the fore limb than the harness animal. 

 Setting aside for the moment the question of the heavy cart- 

 horse, which under all circumstances requires a maximum 

 amount of development of bone and muscle in his limbs, we 

 must also remember that the legs of the saddle-horse (par- 

 ticularly the fore ones, in proportion to the speed required) 

 have to bear the burden of a rider, from which the limbs of 

 the trapper are free. Consequently, the saddle-horse should 

 have stronger legs in comparison to the weight of his body 

 than an animal that works between the shafts, the correcitness 

 of which remark will be confirmed by an inspection of Figs. 

 270, 282, 324, 328, and 370, for instance. Fig. 283 shows a 

 thoroughbred mare whose fore legs, for purposes of racing 

 and steeplechasing, were too light for the weight of her body. 

 She had a nice short back, powerful loins, and was well 

 ribbed up ; but, as I have already said, was too *' heavily 

 topped.'* Her conformation is the direct opposite of that of 

 Specs (Fig. 255), who has a remarkably light fore hand, 

 beautiful riding shoulders, and fore legs which have stood an 

 extraordinary amount of work ; but lacks the " close coupling '" 



