452 CHAPTER 60. 



932. Position in Standing. 



The horse should so stand, that the weight may be evenly distributed 

 on the legs without interfering with their free motion. No precise rules 

 can be laid down as to exact position, because as soon as the animal is 

 put into motion, so much will depend on the kind of action he may 

 have. The eye must principally guide us. Still some general rules may 

 be given. 



1st. A vertical line let fall from the point of the shoulder should meet 

 the ground nearly at the point of the toe, Fig. 14, Plate 37. If the foot 

 is removed much behind that point, the equilibrium is imperfect and the 

 horse is unsafe, Fig. I4.a. If on the other hand the line falls much 

 behind the foot, the horse is probably long in the fetlock and with low 

 heels, and he will in consequence be very liable to sprain of the ligaments 

 of the fetlock, Fig. 146. 



2nd. A vertical line let fall from the middle and back part of the arm 

 should equally divide the knee, cannon, and pastern, and should reach 

 the ground a little behind the heels, Fig. 15. If the line falls within the 

 heels, the horse must have an upright pastern, Fig. I5a ; whilst if it 

 falls at a considerable distance behind that point, the pastern is unduly 

 long, Fig. 156. 



3rd. A vertical line let fall from the middle of the fore-arm ought to 

 divide equally all the inferior parts, Fig. 1G. If the said line falls more 

 exteriorly, the legs are too close, Fig. 16a; whilst if it falls within, the 

 legs are too wide apart, Fig. 166, Plate 38. 



4th. If the said line divides equally the knee and leg as far as the fet- 

 lock, but afterwards falls on the inside, the toes will be unduly turned out, 

 Fig. 17 ; whilst if the line falls more exteriorly, the horse will be pigeon- 

 toed, Fig. 17. 



5th. The lines applicable to the position of the hock were given in 

 Chapter 37, Conformation of the Hock. 



933. Ctlour. 



It is often said that a good horse cannot be a bad colour. This saying 1 

 is scarcely true. It would be more like the truth to say that a good 

 horse never is a bad colour. 



There is but little choice in regard to colour provided only that the 

 colour be good of the sort. All colours which are light of the sort are 

 bad ; whilst all are good which are decided of the sort. For example, a 

 rich brown is good so also is a bright bay with dark legs ; whilst a 

 common brown running to .bay about the legs and flanks, or a bay with 

 light mealy legs is objectionable. Chestnuts, both dark and bright, arc 

 good if the richn'ess of the hue be maintained to the extremities; but 

 both are objectionable if the tail and legs are lighter than the body. 

 The same remarks are applicable to other colours or shades of colour. 



Colour, if wanting in depth, almost always fails towards the extremities. 

 The explanation of this peculiarity is said to be, that all colour is depend- 

 ent on light and heat. Now the heat of the body is greatly dependent 



