72 CONFORMATION AND ITS DEFECTS 



ELBOAV 



The elbow is by no means the least important item in the make-up 

 of the fore-limb, since it affords attachment to the largest and most 

 powerful muscles of the fore extremity. Acting as a lever, the power 

 of the muscles connected with it is aua;mented or diminished according 

 as the lever arm is long or short. Besides beino- long the elbow 

 should stand clear of the body, and l)e directed backward, or with the 

 slightest outward inclination. When inclined too much in the latter 

 direction the toes are made to turn inward, and the animal is said to 

 be " pigeon-toed". When the elbow is directed towards the chest the 

 feet are disposed outward. 



In addition to being unsightly both these conditions predispose to 

 accident and injury. Speedy cutting, interfering, and stumbling are 

 common consecjuences of these defects of conformation, besides which they 

 disorder and retard the action and produce a rolling and irregular gait. 



FOREARM 



Two bones (fig. 11, p. 19) enter into the formation of the forearm. The 

 radius, the longer and larger of the two, is situated in front, and extends 

 from the arm to the knee; the ulna, whose upper extremity forms the 

 projecting point of the ell)ow, is situated behind, and unites with the 

 radius by ossific union for about two-thirds of its length. 



For the purpose of speed, the length of the step in progression, and 

 consequently the velocity attainable, will be greatly influenced by the 

 length of the forearm. From the point of view of speed, therefore, 

 this region should be as long as possible. 



Although favourable to great range of forward movement and a high 

 rate of progression, a long radius does not admit of that sharp, high knee 

 action so nmch admired in the park hack. This kind of movement is more 

 likely to be developed when the forearm is short. 



The muscles of this region both before and behind should be large and 

 well set out, so that when viewed in profile the forearm presents ample 

 width throughout its entire length; any undue and abrupt narrowing 

 towards the knee not only disturbs the harmony of proportion, but is a 

 sign of weakness, which will be still further emphasized in the tendons 

 and parts below forming the region of the canon. 



Viewed from before, the forearm should be thick in conformity with 

 its width. 



