m 



HOW TO JUDGE A HORSE. 



because eacli bone, taken for itself, or in connection 

 with another, may be the cause. But, it is of great 

 importance, for the judging, to distinguish two forms 

 of the under-standing position, accordiiig to the 

 bones of the upper or the lower leg being the cause. 

 In the first case, the disadvantages are not great ; in 

 the second, quite considerable. 



If, through the extra length of the thigh bone, the 

 stifle-joint is placed far forward, but the leg bone 

 is short, and. the hock joint straight, then we get the 

 understanding position, as in Fig 3. But here the 

 adversity of the straight and unelastic hock joint is 

 nearly compensated by the favorable length and the 

 the considerable elasticity of the thigh bone. Such 



Fig. 3. 



Fig. 4. 



Under-standing Position 



by Excellent Thigh Bone, but 



Straight Hock Joint. 



Under-standing Position 



Caused by ttie Stifle-joint Being 



Placed Far Forward, 



