THE FORE-FEET. 61 



small in the himter and steeple-chaser, they will not be 

 able to sustain their weight in dropping from their 

 fences. But if they are tolerably long, very thick, 

 and well-slanted, they will have plenty of strength, 

 combined with a sufficient degree of elasticity. An 

 upright pastern, whether long or short, is highly objec- 

 tionable in a horse for either saddle or harness, and a 

 weak one is, in all cases, unpardonable. 



THE FORE-FEET. 



The foot has, w^th great propriety, been considered a 

 very important portion of the horse. It matters not 

 what else may be good, if the feet are bad the horse 

 will be greatly deteriorated in value. The pace must 

 tell on them, as "it is the pace that kills." They 

 will be sure to get done-up on the road, or perhaps even 

 in the himting-field. Of what use are good legs and a 

 well-built carcase, when the animal is crippled in his 

 feet ? A man might become a useful member of 

 society, through the instnmientality of his brain, even 

 although he used an artificial foot ; but a horse is good 

 for nothing, if his feet are so badly fonned as to be 

 unfit for can-png him through his work. A wooden- 

 leg would not answer here. He would not even do to 

 breed from, as his own natural defect, in all probabi- 

 lity, would appear in his offspring. 



