THE FETLOCKS. 31 



much diminished by the misightliness of a piece 

 of bone on the side of the leg, a lump there, 

 from its prominent situation, offending the eye 

 more than a large spavin. If found just below 

 the knee, it may interfere with the motion of 

 the joint, and if on the inside, it may be the 

 cause of the speedy cut. If near the suspensory 

 ligament, it also sometimes affects the free ac- 

 tion of the leg ; and if extending on to the 

 back sinews, it too often causes lameness. In 

 all clean fresh blood legs, there are three dif- 

 ferent parts distinctly visible : the small, round, 

 flat-looking shank bone, the suspensory liga- 

 ment, and the back sinews ; and these are 

 clearly free from all lumps, and bumps, and 

 bony excrescences whatever ; the only natural 

 prominence being the end of the splent bone, 

 about the size of a pea, two inches above 

 the fetlock. 



The hair about the sides of the fetlock is 

 sometimes a little ruffled : if you feel care- 

 fully, you will probably find he has been slightly 

 fired. At other times the hair will look of a 

 lighter colour ; when, if you get him in a proper 

 light, you will probably find he has been blis- 

 tered. Ask the reason, and you will be told, 

 he was fired for nothing, just as a preventive; 

 or if blistered, merely for fun. Look on these 



