286 THE FORE LIMB. 



back tendons are more or less parallel to the cannon- 

 bone, and is consequently less suited to present conditions. 

 As bones are subordinate to muscles, we may take for 

 granted that, if the former be weak in structure, the 

 latter, as well as the tendons and ligaments, will also be 

 wanting in strength. Eastern horses are often very light 

 below the knee ; but they hardly ever possess undue 

 width of fetlock. A thoroughly sound rule, which is 

 borne out in practice as well as by theory, is to judge 

 (as regards this particular point) the wear-resisting powers 

 of a fore leg, by the direction which the back tendons 

 make with the cannon-bone, and not by its measurement 

 below the knee, which is worthless, unless the measure- 

 ment round the fetlock is also taken into consideration. 

 It is important to note the difference between a leg 

 which is light below the knee, and one which is tied-in 

 below the knee. The latter is always objectionable ; the 

 former, only when the body is too heavy for the fore 

 legs, as in Fig. 370. 



The desirable condition of comparative shortness of 

 cannon-bone is, I think, more frequently seen in hunters, 

 than among other classes of horses. It is well shown in 

 Fig. 404. 



With respect to knees being " well let down," see 

 p. 316 et seq. 



The cannon-bone should be of good substance, as in 

 Frontispiece and Figs. 356, 358 and 369. It should feel 

 hard to the touch and free from any excess of soft tissue 

 between it and the 'skin, or from enlargement from the 

 effects of work or disease — any one of which conditions 

 would give it an appearance of undue roundness. The 

 back tendons, as I have just pointed out, should be as 

 nearly as possible parallel with the cannon-bone. They 

 should be straight, and hard as if they were made of 

 catgut ; and in well-bred horses with fine skins, the 

 division between the two tendons should be visible on 

 close inspection. Any deviation out of the straight line, 



