8 MOUNTED INSTRUCTION 



Foot: The foot ought to be large, the hoof dense and preferably 

 dark in color, the sole concave and the frog large. There is an old 

 saying, "No foot, no horse." Sound feet are absolutely essential to 

 comfort and efficiency of work. The interior of the foot contains very 

 sensitive nerves and membranes. If the foot is too small and con- 

 tracted, if the frog is too narrow and low, inflammation of the mem- 

 branes will frequently follow. The ample foot, wide on top and behind, 

 well supported at the heel, and carried true in movement, turning 

 neither in nor out at the toe, is least likely to be troubled with disease. 



Body : The body should be short on top, long below, broad along 

 the back, with ribs strongly arched and of great depth. A long back 

 indicates weakness of both constitution and Artillery power, while 

 a short deeply muscled back means strength. If the ribs are well 

 sprung and deep, it shows capacity for the internal organs, indicates 

 a good feeder and materially adds to the weight, which is necessary 

 in the Artillery. Usually satisfactory rib development provides a 

 proper body conformation. Often immature horses appear to lack 

 depth of body to some degree, but age and feeding establish the proper 

 proportions. The horse that lacks depth of body will also lack the 

 power of endurance. 



Loin: The loin should be broad and thickly muscled. Narrow, thin 

 loin indicates weakness of a serious character. Often the loin is 

 depressed, directly in front of the space between the hips, a distinc- 

 tively undesirable conformation. Animals with a sway back as a rule 

 show this weakness of loin. 



Croup: The croup should be broad, wide, fairly level and heavily 

 muscled. A steep croup is very objectionable, and affects both the 

 beauty and power of the horse. A short, steep croup is less strongly 

 muscled than one that is long. The Belgian and French Artillery 

 breeds seem most subject to steepness of rump and low setting of tail. 



Thigh : The thigh should be strongly muscled and the quarters 

 should be thick and free. A horse split up high behind, with a thin, 

 sharp tapering thigh, lacks good Artillery form at this place. The 

 gaskin. or lower thigh, where properly made, is deep from the front 

 to rear and heavily covered with muscle. 



Hock : The hock is a part which requires careful study. As viewed 

 from one side, it should show considerable depth, while from the rear 

 it should possess a certain degree of thinness, though broad in front, 

 the entire point being free from extra flesh. Thick hocks are very 

 common with Artillery horses, due to various reasons. The joint 

 may be fleshy, pufiiness may occur for lack of exercise, or a form of 

 spavin may exist. The hock should be smooth and its various natural 

 curves well defined. As the horse stands in a natural position on his 

 feet, the hocks should be straight and true as viewed from behind, 

 showing no evidence of weakness. Where the hock holds a true 

 position the hind foot also stands true, neither toeing in nor out. 

 When toeing out the points of the hock come too close together, 

 while if toeing in notably the points may be wide apart and the hocks 



