262 



CHAPTER XVIII. 



THE FORE LIMB. 



General View of the P"ore Limb — Chief Duties of the Fore Limb — Fore Legs in 

 Saddle and Draught — The Shoulder — Humerus — Elbow — Fore Arm — Knee — 

 From Knee to Fetlock — Fetlock — Pastern — Hoof. 



General Yieiv of the Fore Limb. — As explained 

 on page 36, I apply the term " fore limb " or " fore leg " 

 to the column of bones from the shoulder-blade to the 

 hoof (inclusive), and the attendant soft parts. As the 

 chief muscles of the neck are concerned in the movements 

 of the fore limb, we must take into consideration the con- 

 formation of the former part while studying that of the 

 latter. The shape of the muscles which lie between the 

 upper portion of the limb (above the elbow joint) and 

 the chest, must not be neglected ; for they, respectively, 

 connect the limb to the trunk, and draw it upwards and 

 backwards. The size of some of them, as mentioned 

 on p. 244, regulate the width between the fore legs. As 

 the action of the neck muscles, with regard to the fore 

 limb, has been considered in Chapters X. and XVI. 

 (p. 86 and 218), and that of the other muscles in 

 Chapter IV. (pp. 43 and 44), they need not be specially 

 noticed here. I shall now examine the nature of the 

 work which the fore limb has got to do, with the object 

 of drawing conclusions as to the conformation most 

 suitable to it in particular cases. As its various parts 

 should move in harmony together, it will at first be more 

 profitable to study them collectively than particularly. 



