HORSES: THEIR POINTS AND MANAGEMENT 



Forearms. — (iood qiialit\' is iiidisjXMisabh^ in this rcfi;ion. 

 Slioiilcl be big in the bone, well muscled, and of medium length, 

 but wide from front to back, clean and strong at junction of 

 knees. Capped elbow is a common defect. Knees of 

 good shape, and free from blemish. Manv hackneys have an 

 extravagant degree of knee action, but it is wonderful to note 

 how carefully they place their feet on the ground, so as to 

 diminish concussion. For saddle (hack) work this is undesir- 

 able, and reminds one of the expression that " a hack is a horse 

 to ride, but a hackney one vou should not ride." We hear 

 that hacknev breeders will not readily accept this axiom, 

 (irace and elegance of mov^ement should come from shoulders, 

 knees, and hocks — the latter action far too often ignored. 



Cannons. — Broad at junction of knee, wide from front to 

 back, and covered bv hue hair and thin skin. To be typical, 

 nothing but skin, bone and tendon ought to be felt at this 

 region. Many roadsters are dehcient in bone here. There 

 must be strong cannon bones if the horse has to wear well. 

 Splints arc the worst defect about this part. 



Splint often gives a lot of trouble, and the author always 

 rejects roadsters for it, no matter how small, or where situated. 

 This opinion need not infiuence the buyer to an undue extent, 

 because so many horses having splint, remain sound, but with 

 a professional examination for soundness, the matter is 

 different. Never buy a horse with splints close to back, or side 

 of knee. Obscure forms of lameness frequently arise, through 

 very tiny bony deposits in the channel of the cannon. Speedy 

 cutting bad. Sprained tendons, and breakdown, also occur in 

 Ihis region, the low operation of unnerving, being performed 



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