THE HORSE. 11 



inferred that the horse has had inflammation of the 

 foot, which has divided some of the laminae that attach 

 the inner foot to the horny covering. These laminae, 

 which are one thousand in number, in the healthy 

 foot support the entire weight of the horse, as it were, 

 on springs, instead of allowing it to rest on the sole 

 alone. In the early stage of inflammation but few 

 of these laminae are injured. The presence of pumice- 

 sole stamps the horse as UNSOUND. 





THE KNEES. 



Upon the spotless purity of the knees too much 

 stress is often laid, but security alone is the object 

 to be considered. A properly-formed horse, with his 

 fore and hind quarters proportioned to each other, 

 and his action straight and true, will not fall, except 

 from over fatigue. Herq do not deceive yourself, but 

 take care, that in proportion to the beauty or length of 

 the hind quarters be also the obliquity or slanting 

 of the shoulder-blades. The wither has nothing to do 

 with this so far as regards thinness, height, and other 

 fancies but it is best when thick at the lower part 

 next the back. A horse thus chosen, with broken 

 knees, unless the tendon is injured, is safer and better, 

 if he has decent hind quarters, than one having upright 

 shoulders, high withers, and all the popular requisites, 

 even with the most immaculately-covered knees. De- 





