WHITE FEET AND LEGS 415 



tendency to grease. The feathering hair is sometimes stimu- 

 lated in growth by the application of a blister, and to prevent 

 it falling out when a horse is being forced in preparation 

 for show, but the quality is not then so silky. 



White feet, though common, are objectionable, being 

 frequently though not invariably softer than the others. 

 They are now so prevalent among the best horses that some 

 authorities go so far as to say that a white foot and sock are 

 essentials in the pure Clydesdale. 1 The feet cannot be too 

 large, if not thin and flat or " down in the soles.'' In the early 

 eighties too many stallions were lame from laminitis, or 

 founder, induced by excessive feeding and insufficient exercise, 

 but the latter years of last century saw a marked improve- 

 ment which has been since maintained. 



The fore and hind legs and feet must be sound, as few of 

 their diseases and defects are not hereditary and liable to 

 occur even to the third and fourth generation. All four limbs 

 should be set on straight, as they look better and are also 

 stronger. It is less objectionable to have a toe pointed 

 slightly in than out, when strength for work is the object. 

 For exhibition purposes the opposite is the case, as an in-toed 

 horse on being trotted for showing is apt to throw his feet 

 outwards in moving. The tendency then is to exaggerate the 

 defect, whereas an out-toed horse when trotting " in a man's 

 hand " shows to the best advantage. 



The hocks should be broad in front and not too straight, 

 else there is liability to thorough-pin, and not too crooked, as 

 they do not look well although they may be strong. Any 

 organic defect in a hock constitutes unsoundness. Adjoining 

 muscles should be firm and strong, as fleshy or flabby hocks are 

 objectionable. The leg from the hock to the ground should 

 be " short, broad, flat, clean, evenly, and straight, or slightly 

 inclined forward." 



The pasterns ought to be medium in length, so as to give 



1 There is a well-grounded objection to white feet and legs in the 

 Argentine Republic ; and on the great draught-horse-breeding ranche 

 of J. B. Haggin in California, Clydesdales cannot be reared owing to the 

 liability of the white surfaces to burn and blister in the sun, so that the 

 parts become swollen and painful, more particularly when the animals have 

 access to water in which they can wet the white places. The white blaze 

 or " ratch " on the face is equally objectionable if it involves the region of 

 the nostrils, which is particularly sensitive to sun-burning. 



