37 MANUAL OF MODERN FARRIERY 



the fore-legs. Let the feet be nearly circular, gradually 

 increasing as they descend towards the sole. Their 

 inclination outwards should not be so great as that 

 of the pastern ; the chances are that feet which slope 

 too much forwards are diseased, or liable to it ; 

 besides, this obliquity throws the animal too much 

 on his heels, which produces tenderness of the part, 

 and straining of the back sinew. 



The position of the legs and feet, or what may be 

 termed their setting on, is a most important point. 

 Viewing the horse in front, his legs should be as 

 nearly straight as possible, and his feet neither inclining 

 to the right or left ; as feet turned outwards are very 

 liable to cut and trip, and the action of the horse is 

 seldom good or agreeable to the eye, having an out- 

 ward stride, and loses ground thereby at every step. 

 Horses with an inward inclination are said to be pin- 

 toed, or pigeon-toed. These generally throw the foot 

 outwards, exhibiting the sole of the foot while in 

 action to those who are standing on one side of him. 

 Such horses have usually a laboured action, which 

 fatigues the animal, and is equal to a third, less or 

 more, of the distance he has actually travelled. The 

 fore-legs should be set well under the fore part of the 

 shoulder, affording ample support to it ; such as have 

 their legs placed forward possess neither power nor 

 action. When the legs are viewed sideways, or in 

 profile, they should be nearly straight, as in our re- 

 presentation of the horse (Plate i), but when horses 

 have what are called calf-knees, that is, with a slight 

 inclination inwards, and with the shank sloping 

 forwards, it is a certain sign of weakness, and such 

 horses will always more easily knock up with hard 

 work than those which have straight or even pro- 

 minent knees. 



