THE HORSE. 107 



Bent before. 



When the fore-legs of the horse are bent forward at 

 the knee, he is said to be bent before ; this may proceed 

 from over-work, or from pain in the feet resulting from 

 contraction, inflammation, See., but it more frequently 

 proceeds from flat feet. In these cases, the animal is 



UNSOUND. 



When the cause does not consist in pain, and when 

 the deviation from the natural line is but slight, and 

 the horse can do his proper work without inconvenience, 

 even then, as in the case of total blindness, the defect 

 may be visible, but he is SOUND. 



When the profile of the fore-legs has a deviation 

 of anything more than the very slightest, it is a 



BLEMISH. 



You must not be talked over into the belief that the 

 horse was deformed to this extent when he was foaled, 

 and that it is not, therefore, the result of hard work or 

 mismanagement, for though all colts are foaled crooked, 

 or bent before, they remain so for a short time only. 



Bent-legged horses have a reputation for good courage ; 

 if they are bent but slightly, they are frequently safe 

 and good saddle-horses. They are, however, best adapted 

 to harness -work ; and, when much bent, should be 

 worked in double harness, so that they may be free 

 from any weight on the back. 



