THE HACKNEY OR HARNESS HORSE 



at the hollows of the fetlock. Windgalls are common at the 

 latter. 



Pasterns. — To be of moderate slope, proportionate length, 

 and free from coarse hair, or any bony enlargements. One of 

 the worst faults that a roadster can have — and very commonly 

 they have such— is that of having either short, upright 

 pasterns, too long, or pasterns that are obhque. Bony 

 enlargements about the coronet, pastern, and fetlock are 

 frequent, and of course detract greatly from the animal's value, 

 not necessarily its utihty. Brushing often very troublesome. 

 The elastic plates of cartilage at the back and upper part of the 

 hoof (on a line with the coronary band) mav be calcified, 

 otherwise the horse have sidebone. This is very detrimental, 

 though even a roadster with sidebone may go sound. It is 

 not the rule. 



Feet, Fore and Hind. — If a horse has not the best of 

 feet, the less one has to do with it the better. Compare both 

 fore feet, and then these with the hind ones. Inequality in 

 size will be better seen in this way. Typical feet must be 

 proportionate. 



Small feet are bad, but we would sooner select a horse 

 having them, than one with big feet. A big-footed roadster 

 brings too much concussion upon his horny box, and the 

 delicate structures within it are in time injured. 



Contracted foot {or feet), navicular disease (indicated by 

 short cat-like step, lameness, wearing of shoe at toe, and pawing) ; 

 flat sole, corn, thrush, chronic founder, sandcrack {fore and hind), 

 and seedy toe, are the principal defects about the feet. Beware of 



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