THE FORE-FEET. 69 



pasterns are well formed and favourably united, they 

 will stand an immense deal of work without the super- 

 vention of ring-bones, or any other disease. /. When 

 the heel is very low and the foot thin, the bones of the 

 pastern will observe such a direction as to produce a 

 sinking at the coronet, and probably a knuckling for- 

 ward at the lower end of the sSank besides. ^This will 

 cause a stress on the sinews and ligaments, and the 

 formation altogether is a very bad one.' On the other 

 hand, when the heel is too high, there will be a want 

 of proper elasticity in the pastern, and the parts are 

 predisposed to disease. 



The ground-surface of the foot is deserving of con- 

 sideration. It should not be either very flat or very 

 hollow, ( A flat sole can hardly be prevented fi-om de- 

 scending so far as to cause lameness, by pressure against 

 the shoe, whilst an extremely hollow one is indicative 

 of contraction, present or future. Here, again, the 

 medium state is the best. 



"^ The frog must be large, elastic, and healthy-looking. 

 It should be kept particularly free from thrushes. The 

 inflammation and discharge connected with them are 

 sure, if allowed to continue, to end in most seriouSy 

 and perhaps irremediable, injury to the delicate parts 

 within. They will cause lameness for the time being, 

 and idtimately contraction of the heel. A great deal of 

 the soundness of the foot depends upon the condition 

 of the frog."^ If it is allowed to get too dry and 



