42 HOW TO JUDGE A HORSE. 



offering, with the whole inside surface of the shoulder, 

 as far down as the elbow, fastening points for the con- 

 necting muscles, the position of the highest point of 

 the column to the basis of the hoof, is not of so much 

 concern as in the hind leg. It will be pretty near 

 correct, to consider the elbow joint as the chief sup- 

 porting point for the rump, and its position as decid- 

 ing. In the normal position, the elbow joint stands 

 perpendicularly over the fetlock joint, and generally 

 a line from the shoulder joint will meet the toe of the 

 hoof. If we examine the deviations from this rule, 

 we will find them to be in two directions. In the 

 fore-standing or stretched position, the fetlock joint 

 falls forward of the line from the elbow joint ; in the 

 under-standing, behind the same. In the first case, 

 the foot stands too far forward ; in the latter, too far 

 under the body. 



In judging the fore-standing position, we will find 

 that all muscles and sinews, located on the rear side 

 of the leg, not only including the flexors of the 

 lower leg from the knee down, but, also, the extensors 

 acting on the elbow lever, have to work and carry 

 weight in an increased proportion; the conse- 

 quence being that horses, with this formation, fre- 

 quently strain their sinews, especially if the fetlock 

 is very long. This defect will be augmented, if the 

 leg is calf-hieed — that means, if the knee stands be- 



