42 



HINTS ON HORSES 



into the foot when he is standing, and will 

 cause a corn to develop. 



Unshod animals when lying out in very 

 wet weather sometimes perch themselves up 

 on their feet so as to keep their chests away 

 from the damp ground, and in consequence 

 suffer from capped elbow. 



Front View. 



Regarding the horse from the front, width 

 means strength (Fig. 22); narrowness, speed 

 (Fig. 23). A thoroughbred weed is sometimes 

 described as having both fore legs growing 

 out of the same hole. Such a one may be 

 very speedy for a short distance, but is not a 

 stayer. A horse to stay must have room for 

 his lungs. The room obtained perpendicu- 

 larly conduces to speed, and horizontally to 

 strength. An example of this theory may be 

 taken from the comparison of the greyhound 

 with the bulldog. 



Horses' legs should be perpendicular. 

 Knock-kneed horses are called "calf kneed." 



Many horses turn their toes out more or 



less. This is a source of weakness, because 

 the foot in the air, moving forward, is apt to 

 hit the fetlock of the other foot when on the 

 ground. To remedy this the inside of the 

 shoe should be made thicker than the outside, 

 causing the horse to stand on the outside edge 

 of his foot, thereby forcing the fetlock more 

 nearly into its proper position. 



Some horses turn their toes in, a strong 

 but ugly formation. 



Care should be taken to draw the pasterns 

 clean. Any swellings of the outline would 

 indicate ossifications known as "ring bone," 

 etc. In the canon bone, also, lumps should 

 be avoided, unless you wish to indicate that 

 the horse has splints. In which case be careful 

 also where you place them. If high up near the 

 knee-joint either on the outside or the inside 

 outline of the leg the splint would probably 

 cause lameness, by interfering with the attach- 

 ments or pressing on the ligaments or tendons. 

 Whereas halfway down the canon bone the 

 horse can have a very big splint quite clear of 

 the tendons, etc., and one which once formed 

 and hardened will in no way affect his sound- 

 ness. 



