The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1869-07-30
How to Select q Saddle Horse.

Il. q. DTEsR, a well-tnoNp Fugiisli vet
Urinary surgeon, gives the following direc-
tions about saddle horses:
at has been asserted that an oblique
shoulder is indispensable in riding horse,
and anything approaching to straightness
is considered Objectionable. These re-
marks may be well received, but they do
not convey all that is necessary to know.
It may be asked how or in what manner,
speaking mechanically of course, an
oblidue shoaldet Is superior to O. straight
one. In order to explain this fully and
satisfactorily, the readers attention must
be directed for moment to steelyard-
continuance made of iron, which is capa-
BILE of testing the weight OF hay, straw,
and other commodities. The small weight,
used as balancing forec, 70 placed at
some given point, 80 as to indicate the
value Of that which is weighed. Ii placed
at the extreme point of the "yard" it
will exert as much influence, although
weighing but four ounces, as Sc pounds
of hay or other matter would at the sther
end. This weight becomes less and less
as it appfoacfes the opposite end of the
steelyard, 80 that when placed at ole end,
it as it were, weighs nothing. and when
placed at the opposite end 1t will be found
equal to Sc pounds in weight. The same
may be shown by placing 9 stone Q4-ib.)
weight upon q walking stick. II the
stone weight be held upon the stick, close
to the hana, which holds it horizontally,
of course it is EASILY hsld; let It be ear-
ried or moved gradually toward the point
of the stick, and it will soon occur to the
operator that he must throw it down, as
it is impossible for him to hold it many
moments in that position. Another ex-
ample, for the sake of illustration, may be
mentioned. Take an ordinary kitchen
poker, hold it by the knob horizontally,
of course) for some minutes, and then
hold 1t in the center, and it will be learned
that in the former mode it will be retained
scarcely more than five minutes, while in
the latter it may be retained and held an
indefinite time. Now we will endeavor to
apply these remarks to horse and his
rider.
"a horse with straight shoulder, sup
posed to be ND to IA or Is stone with fox
hounds, is often placed in difficulties. For
misunderstanding that the riders
weight should be placed Immediately over
the hindermost dorsal bones. and portion
Of the lumbar bones, that weight will be
in such q position as to admit OF all his
movements to he carried on with esse to
himself and his rider; but if the rider is
compelled to sit close to the neck, as he
would have to do upon q straight.
shUrldered horse, then his weight would
materially interfere with the motion OF the
front limbs There would be correspond
ing influence upon his movements that We
found in the position of the weight OF the
steelyard. Doubtless IA stone placed near
to the neck will have as much influence as
10 or 20 stone has when placed in the cen
ter of the back, and this will be apparent
in ordinary motion. How much more,
then, will it be apparent in lespingf Ii
we take this for granted, we may readily
believe how difficult it is for an animal to
carry q fourteen-stone man over large
fence. Unless his hind quarters are pro
portionably strong. he is likely to fail in
carving him safely over the jump. Again,
if q horse with q defective or straight
shoulder is ridden down q steep bill, the
entire weight Is thrown upon the front
limbs and neck, which must, Of necessity,
impede their action, in addition TO which
the rider is rendered uncomfortable and
occasionally subject to falls. Further, in
taking q deep drop, il the animal
ia oyerweiphted at the shoulders,
he generally drops upon his knees,
or falls altogether in coming TO the ground,
unless the rider has the power of keeping
himself well back, which he cannot posi-
Div do in the same manner ne would If he
were sitting in q proper position, with sui
flcient obliquity of shoulder. 1t Ii gener-
ally believed if horse possesses strong
hind quarters it is . compensation for
defective forehand. This is an error. A
horse has propelling power, so to speak,
in the front a. well a. in the hludmost
limbs. 90 not say that powerful hind
quarter will not, in some measure,
make up for deficiency before, but not TO
the extent imagined by some persons. 1t
NAV be accepted a. truth that every quar-
ter of an inch nearer TO the cervical verte-
bra rider il obliged to sit il an ipsuper-
able objection. The only way to get over
this dificulty a. regards the position OF
the rider 10 to have recourse to the obso-
the crupper. Although it il old fashioned,
il tends to prove that our forefathers had
rood and sudlcient reasons for using it.
MANY other illustrations might be adduced
to pfove the truth Of these observations.
were 1t necessary. This reminds me OF
a conversation which took place sometime
since with an eminent korse painter. DE
showed me his portfolio OF celebrated
horses. and In soeAkiug of straight.