692 



THE AMERICAN FARMER. 



The arm should be large where it joins the body, admitting of strength by giving it a 

 firm attachment to the trunk. The sinews of the leg should be large, indicative of large 

 muscles and strength. A broad, flat leg denotes great strength and endurance. 



The following cuts will serve to give a better idea of the bones of the lower limbs of a 

 horse, than can be given by a verbal description : 



d.. 



e. 



f- 



g- 



FIG. 1. 



FIG. 2. 



FIG. 3. 



Fig. 1 shows a side view of the bones of the fore leg ; a represents the bones of carpus ; 

 I, splent, or what is sometimes termed the splint bone ; c, cannon bone ; d, sesamoid bone ; 

 e, pastern bone ; /, coronet bone ; g, coffin bone. 



Fig. 2 represents the front view of bones of the hind legs ; a, 5, c, d, e, bones of the 

 tarsus ; / cannon bone ; g, pastern bone ; h, coronet bone ; t, coffin bone. 



Fig. 3 illustrates a side view of the hind leg ; a, bones of the tarsus ; J, splint bone ; c, 

 cannon bone ; d, sesamoid bone ; e, pastern bone ; / coronet bone ; g, coffin bone. 



These, together with a cut of the skeleton of a horse hereafter given in connection with 

 diseases of this animal and their treatment, will enable the reader to obtain a correct idea of 

 the location of all the bones. 



With regard to the position of the fore leg when standing, Carson says: &quot;The leg 

 should drop perfectly straight from its junction with the shoulder to the ground ; and the 

 point of the toe should come as near as possible to a straight line under the point of the 

 shoulder.&quot; 



The Pastern. In the draft horse the pastern should be strong, short, and nearly up 

 right, while in the trotter it should be long and well slanted, so as to give the movement of the 

 horse that easy, elastic, springing character that relieves the ends of the upright bones of that 

 fearful concussion which would otherwise invariably occur when trotting upon the race 

 course or in running and leaping in hurdle races. Besides, when under saddle, horses that 

 have long pasterns are easy and comfortable for the rider. But in this, as in almost every 

 thing else, the happy medium &quot; is to be preferred for general purposes, for if the pasterns 

 are too long, or slope too much, there will be a tendency to spraining or weakness of the back 

 tendons. 



Fig. 4 represents the pasterns of a horse. 



a. The shank bone. 



b. The upper and larger pastern bone. 



