74 



CONFORMATION AND ITS DEFECTS 



observed, and present some of the worst and most objectionable defects of 

 conformation. 



When the knee is displaced forward in advance of the vertical line 

 it is said to be "bowed", or the horse "stands over", "knee spruno-", &c. 



(fig. 52). 



This deformity may exist at birth and con- 

 tinue through the life of the animal, when it is 

 said to be " congenital ", or, as more frequently 

 occurs, it arises out of hard work, injury, and 

 contraction of the weight -bearing structures of 

 the limb, especially the back tendons and liga- 

 ments. Other examples result from an enfeebled 

 state of the flexor and extensor muscles, whose 

 tendons being relaxed fail to give support to the 

 joint. 



When of congenital origin " bowed knees " are 

 not a serious defect except in bad cases, but when 

 otherwise induced they impair tlie working powers 

 of the animal and 

 render him dangerous 

 both in the shafts and 

 under saddle. 

 When the knees incline backward (fig. 53) 

 the horse is said to have " calf knees ". This 

 is a condition most frequently met with among 

 heavy horses, but we are not aware of any 

 serious defect arising out of it. It may, how- 

 ever, conduce to sprain of the back tendons and 

 ligaments in horses of speed, as some writers 

 have affirmed, by displacing the weight unduly 

 backward. 



Lateral deviation of the knees may also 

 occur in an inward or outward direction. In 

 the former the joints approach each other 

 more or less closely and the feet are turned 

 outward (fig. 55). In the hitter they are 

 set wide apart while the feet are directed inward (fig. 56). These 

 disturbances in the conformation of the limbs are not only un- 

 sightly but serious. Besides rendering the animal unsafe to ride 

 or drive and awkward of gait they give rise to an unequal distribu- 

 tion of the body -weight on the supporting columns and conduce to 



Fig. 52. — Bowed Knees 



rig-. 53. — (Jalf KnuL 



