THE FORE-FEET. 65 



horse as in the man. If we were choosing a man for 

 walking, running, leaping, or wrestling, we would never 

 think of selecting a fellow with clock-killing platters 

 of feet. He would no sooner make his appearance 

 than he would he rejected as totally unfit for the work. 

 Why then should we prefer a similar development in 

 the horse ? Does he not require a tear-and-wear sort 

 of foot as much as the man ? He surely does ; and 

 one, too, that he can lift and lay in a lighter manner 

 than if it were a fifty-six pound weight he had attached 

 to his leg. The horse is not intended for passing over a 

 moving-sand or a quagmire, and therefore he does not 

 require an enormous foot. In this instance, as in many 

 others, the medium size is far the best. In fact, it 

 is the only safe one. A foot which is either very 

 large or very small, is liable to a variety of diseases, 

 which will be sure to impak its usefulness. The one 

 extreme is nearly as bad as the other. The bones of 

 the foot should bear a reasonable proportion in size to 

 the bones of the leg ; and the hoof should be just so 

 large and so strong, as to afi'ord perfect accommodation 

 and protection to all the bones, ligaments, vessels, and 

 nerves which are contained within its walls. Any 

 deviation from these proportions must be looked upon 

 as a radical defect. 



The shape of the foot is of quite as much importance 

 as its size. The hoof should be rather longer than 

 broad on its ground surface ; and its breadth should 



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