TYPES AND MARKET CLASSES OF LIVE STOCK 369 



defects in the shape and position of the legs are shown in the 

 accompanying drawings. 



A horse that is "base wide" or "toe wide" in front, swings 

 the leg inward when in action. A "base narrow" or "toe nar- 

 row" conformation results in the horse swinging his feet out- 

 ward, or "paddling" as it is called. (See accompanying draw- 

 ings.) Horses that naturally stand wide at the hocks will travel 

 the same way (wide), which is very undesirable. When the 

 hind legs are bowed outward, the hocks spread still further 

 outward when the stress comes upon them in action, and usually 

 the foot leaves the ground with a twisting motion which wears 

 out shoes and is otherwise undesirable. Any deviation from 

 trueness in the flight of the foot wastes energy, detracts from 

 the appearance of the horse in action, and the horse may strike 

 himself, called interfering, which often causes blemishes, lame- 

 ness, and stumbling. 



Viewed from the side, a nicely sloping foot and pastern 

 leave the ground easily and describe the arc of a circle at every 

 step. Straight or stubby pasterns and feet result in a short, 

 stubby way of going that is stilted and non-elastic. A too- 

 sloping pastern and foot are not nicely carried, but are brought 

 out straight to a point in front and then slapped upon the ground. 

 (See accompanying drawings.) Other defects of action will be 

 discussed in connection with the various types of horses. 



Bent or sickle hocks. This defect is often difficult for 

 beginners to detect. It is often possible to pose a horse so as 

 to hide this fault unless one knows exactly how to detect it 

 under all conditions. When a horse with a sickle hock stands 

 in a natural position, the defect is easily seen. A vertical line 

 downward from the point of the buttock may then touch the 

 point of the hock, but below that point the cannon slopes for- 

 ward instead of following the vertical line, and the hind foot is 

 placed too far forward. (See B in Fig. 124, and note that 

 this is not the same defect as B in Fig. 121.) Some horses are 

 very slightly sickled and some are very crooked indeed. Such 

 a conformation is decidedly objectionable because bent hocks 

 are not as stout as straight hocks at a hard pull or at work of 

 any kind, and furthermore the crooked shape of the hock and leg 

 brings an added strain on the hock joint. The sickle hock often 

 develops a curb, and is also subject to other unsoundnesses. 



In showing horses, it is common to stretch them out on their 

 legs to a slight extent, so as to raise the head and neck, level 



