240 THE HORSE. 



oiherwise it cannot discharge all these duties. Horsemen differ on a 

 variety of other points, but here they are agreed. A full and swelling 

 fore-arm is tne characteristic of every thorough-bred horse, and for speei 

 and continuance he is unequalled. Whatever other good points a horse 

 may possess, if the arm be narrow in front and near the shoulder, flat on 

 the side, and altogether poor in appearance, that horse is radically defect- 

 ive ; he can neither raise his knee for rapid action, nor throw his legs 

 sufficiently forward. 



The arm should likewise be long. In proportion to the length of the 

 muscle is the degree of contraction of which it is capable; and in propor- 

 tion to the degree of contraction in the muscle, will be the extent of motion 

 in the part of the limb beneath. A racer, with a short arm, would be 

 sadly deficient in stride ; a hunter, with the same defect, would not be able 

 to double his legs well under him in the leap. There is, however, a medium 

 in this, and the advantage of length in the arm will depend on the use to 

 which the horse is applied. The lady's horse, the cavalry horse, every 

 horse in which prancing action is esteemed a beauty, and in which utility 

 is, to a certain degree, sacrificed to appearance, must not be too long in the 

 arm. If he be long there, he will be proportionably short in the leg ; and 

 although this is an undoubted excellence, whether speed or continuance be 

 regarded, the short leg will not give the grand and imposing action which 

 fashion may require : and, in addition to this, a horse with short legs may 

 not have quite so easy action as another whose length is in the shank rather 

 than in the arm. 



THE KNEE. 



The Knee (M, p. 63, and cut, p. 230) constitutes the joint or joints 

 between the arm and the shank or leg ; and it is far more complicated than 

 any joint we have yet considered. Beside the lower head of the bone of 

 the arm, and the upper heads of the three bones of the leg, there are 

 no less than six other bones interposed, arranged in two rows, three in each 

 row, and the seventh placed behind the other, to which an eighth is some- 

 times added. 



What was the intention of this complicated structure ? A joint between 

 the elbow and the fetlock was absolutely necessary to the action of the 

 horse. An inflexible pillar of that length could scarcely have been lifted 

 from the ground, and certainly could not have been lifted far enough for 

 rapid or safe motion. It was likewise necessary, that the interposing joint 

 should be so constituted as to preserve this part of the limb in a straight 

 direction, and should possess sufficient strength to resist all common work 

 and accidents. Being in a straight direction, the shock or jar between the 

 ends of the bones of the arm and the leg would be dreadful, and would 

 speedily inflict irreparable injury. The heads of all bones are covered 

 with elastic cartilage, to protect them from injury by concussion, but this 

 would be altogether insufficient here. Six distinct bones, then, are placed 

 here, each covered above and below by a thick coating of cartilage, con- 

 nected together by strong ligaments, but separated by fluids and mem- 

 branes interposed. The concussion is thus spread over the whole of them 

 and shared by the whole of them ; and, by the peculiarity of their connection, 

 deadened and rendered harmless. 



These six distinct bones, united to each other by numerous and powerful 

 ligaments, will also afford a far stronger joint than the apposition of any 

 two bones, however perfect and strong might be the capsular ligament, or 

 uy whatever other ligaments it could be strengthened. In addition to the 



