THE POINTS OF THE HORSE 141 



The cannon bone reaches to the joint above the foot, and 

 consists of a round-fronted bone, with two small bones back 

 of it. There are two tendons lying directly back of the can- 

 non bone. The correct shape for the cannon bone is short 

 and somewhat flat, an important feature of a strong confor- 

 mation. It is especially desirable that the bone below the 

 knee be wide, furnishing a strong support for the knee. 



The fetlock joint connects with the lower end of the 

 cannon bone. This joint should be straight, deep through, 

 and smooth. 



The pastern is in the main a combination of two short 

 bones, and should stand at an incline, because it plays an 

 important part in breaking the concussion which takes place 

 when the horse is in motion. The shorter and more upright 

 the pastern the more liable is the horse to have bone diseases 

 and a hard gait. Carriage horses should have the pastern 

 show a slope of about 45 degrees. Drafters are usually 

 steeper of pastern than the light horse. The pastern is 

 sometimes too long, and lacks the strength to support the 

 body correctly. 



The foot consists of several parts. The hoof proper is a 

 very tough, horny bone, and in form should be rather round, 

 although the hind foot is never as round as is the one in 

 front. The top of the hoof should not be narrow and small, 

 but should have some fullness compared with the lower part. 

 The back part of the hoof makes a sudden turn forward 

 underneath, forming a V-shaped portion known as the frog. 

 This frog is somewhat elastic, and acts as a buffer on the sur- 

 face of the ground, which under natural conditions it should 

 just touch. The frog should never be pared by the black- 

 smith, excepting to remove tag ends or parts grown out of 

 shape. A good frog saves the foot hard punishment on the 

 road. The sole of the foot is the part between the outer 



