3oS 



PROPORTIONS OF THE HORSE. 



As this proportion must necessarily vary according to the 

 length and position of the shoulder-blade, I refrain from 

 applying it to all classes. 



The following proportions are approximately correct for 

 all horses, except those of the heavy cart type, whose necks 

 are particularly massive, as in Fig. 334 : — 



(8) Width of head (m n) = width of upper part of neck {n 0). 



(9) Distance {k /) of top of head to corner of mouth = thickness of 



base of neck {q r). 



Any attempt — as has frequently been made — to formulate 

 proportions of length between the limbs and body of what 

 might be called an '' ordinary horse/' would be merely 



Fig. 396.— Proportions of Horse. 

 {Drawn from a Photograph.) 



begging the question by constructing an ideal animal to 

 conform to one's own theories ; instead of, as one ought to 

 do, supporting one's hypotheses on the firm basis of fact 

 As the comparative length of limb varies according to the 

 class ot horse; we find (Chapter XV.), taking the two 



