64 MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 



Thighs and buttocks. — Long and muscular, muscles extending well 

 down into the gaskin. WTien the muscles of the inner side of the 

 thighs are but little developed, the horse is said to be split up behind. 



Stifles. — Large, broad, well muscled, and free from puffiness, 



Gaskins. — Long, broad, and muscular. 



Hocks. — Large, wide, deep from front to rear, smooth, well sup- 

 ported, and free from puffy swellings and bony enlargements; point 

 prominent, clean, and standing well away from the joint. The hocks 

 should stand well apart, but not enough to give the horse the appear- 

 ance of being bow-legged. ^Tien the hocks stand close together and 

 the hind feet well apart, with the toes turned out, the horse is said 

 to be cow hocked. The term sickle hock is applied to hocks that ap- 

 pear overly bent when viewed from the side. 



Cannons. — Short, wide, and flat; tendons smooth and well defined, 

 and the line from the point of the hock to the fetlock straight, and 

 nearly perpendicular. 



Fetlocks. — Large, wide, well supported, and free from puffy swell- 

 ings. When the fetlock is inclined too far forward, the condition is 

 called cocked ankle. 



Pasterns. — Of moderate length, large, free from enlargements, and 

 inclined at an angle of from 50° to 55° with the ground . 



Feet. — Same as fore feet, except that the shape is oval, the sole more 

 concave, and the wall more nearly vertical. 



Appearances df Health. 



123. Manner of standing. — Fore feet square and firm on the 

 ground; one hind foot may or may not be resting on the toe. A fore 

 leg is never rested unless injured, diseased, or greatly fatigued. In 

 the latter condition the feet are alternately lifted and replaced in 

 position by a slow and regular stamping movement. The head is 

 held erect, the eyes are wide open and there is a lively play of the 

 ears. 



124. Skin. — Loose, supple, and easily moved about over the struc- 

 tures beneath. 



125. Coat. — Smooth, sleek, and glossy. In cold weather, unless 

 blankets are used, the hair stands upright, the coat becomes heavy 

 and coarse and loses its gloss. 



126. Pulse. — Strong, full, regular, and beating from 36 to 40 times 

 a minute. The number of beats is increased by exercise, excite- 

 ment, and disease. 



