108 THE HORSE 



all horses which come down upon their fore-legs after a spring, whether 

 this is in the gallop, or the leap, or the trot, for the use of it is by 

 its elasticity to break the jar which is thereby occasioned. The upright 

 form is stronger, as the weight is placed more directly over the column 

 which bears it, but it allows of less elasticity under the sudden shock 

 given by the impetus of the body as it approaches the earth, and for 

 this reason is only suited to the slow work of the cart-horse, or heavy 

 machiuer. In conjunction with the oblique, and thex'efore long blade, 

 is always found a long true arm, which is sometimes so extended back- 

 ward as to place the elbow absolutely in the way of the girths, and 

 then perhaps may be considered as too long, especially as it throws the 

 weight of the fore-quarter much in front of the fore-legs, and tends 

 to make the horse possessing it somewhat unsafe unless his action is 

 particularly free. This part also should be well clothed with muscles. 



The fore-arm or arm, as it is generally called, is not remarkable 

 for any great peculiarities, but it is somewhat larger in proportion to 

 the cannon-bone than in other breeds. 



The knee is broad and deep, from before backwards, and the leg 

 below the knee is peculiarly free from that contraction or " tying in " 

 which in the cart-horse and allied breeds is so objectionable, being an 

 element of weakness when the joint is exposed to the strains incidental 

 to fast work of any kind. So also a bending backwai'ds of the joint 

 called the " calf-knee," common in the cart-horse, is condemned in the 

 race-horse for the same reason. 



The bone of the leg both in the fore- and hind-quarter is small, 

 but of compact substance, while the suspensory ligament and })ack sinew 

 are so large, and stand out so freely, as to appear to form quite one-half 

 of the leg. The fetlock joints are clean and of good size, the pasterns 

 long and elastic, and the feet though small as compared with other 

 breeds, yet large enough for the weight they have to carry, their horny 

 covering being also tough and compact. 



In the hind-quarter the Eastern horse and his descendants excel all 

 others in symmetry and in the length of the various parts composing 

 it. Comparing the cart-horse with the subject of the present investigation, 

 one is struck with the greatly increased length of the thighs of the 

 latter, approaching almost to the proportions of the greyhound. In the 

 cart-horse, when walking, the stifle-joint can hardly be seen, while in 

 the race-horse it is brought out prominently at every step. This gives 

 the stride necessary for pace, and the first strain of blood known as 

 that of Selim, and his brothers Castrei and Rubens, possesses this 

 peculiarity in a marked manner, though from the high position of the 

 stifle in them, and their straight hocks, many people lose sight of this' 

 peculiarity. With regard to the hocks of a race-horse, they should be 

 of full size, clean, and as a matter of course, free from curbs or spavins. 

 They are also generally considered to require very long points, that is 

 to say, the projecting lever to which the ham-string is attached should 

 be long. From an examination of many race-horses I am satisfied that 

 for speed this may be over-done, for though power is gained by it, 

 quickness is sacrificed ; and a very long point to the hock is apt to 

 give long, dull, and dwelling action, entirely opposite to quick pace, 



