The shoulders are smoothly muscled. The shoulder blades are long and well laid back, with the upper tips about two fingers' breadth apart at the withers. The upper arm appears to be equal in length to the shoulder blade and joins it at an apparent right angle. The elbows are close to the body. The forelegs are straight, strong and sturdy in bone, but not heavy-boned.
Pasterns are strong, short, slightly sloping, and with a slight spring.
Viewed from the side, the forelegs are set under the withers. The ribs extend well back and are well sprung out from the spine, forming a broad, strong back, then curving down and inward to form a deep body, extending to the elbow. The circumference of the thorax immediately behind the elbows is smaller than that of the thorax about a hand's breadth behind the elbows so that the upper arm has room for movement. The forechest extends only slightly in front of the point of shoulder. Viewed from the front, the chest between the forelegs is well filled and is at least as wide as a man's closed hand.