HINTS ON PUHCHASE OF RIDING HORSES. 457 



a good rein a horse will never break well, or bo 

 pleasant to ride. 



15. Reject a horse with very low withers. The saddle will be apt to 



work forwards, and the " rein " will probably be 

 deficient, and the leverage for the muscles of the 

 fore-hand is defective. 

 loa a slug always a nuisance. 



16. To see the above points stand on the side and form your opinion 



before the horse moves off. 



17. Reject a horse with a narrow or shallow chest. There is not suffi- 



cient capacity for the Lungs. 



18 , with fore-legs very close together. This and the 



former defect generally go together. To see these 

 points stand in front. 



19. whose fore-legs are not straight. They will not 



stand wear. Stand behind the horse as he walks 

 away from you, and you will be able to notice 

 these defects, if they exist. 



20 which is light below the knee, especially if light 



immediately below the knee. The conformation is 

 essentially weak. 



21 with long, or with short, or with upright pasterns. 



Long pasterns are subject to sprains. Short or 

 upright pasterns make a horse unpleasant to ride, 

 and on acount of extra concussion are apt to cause 

 ossific deposits. 



22 with toes turned in or out. The twist generally 



occurs at the Fetlock. Toes turned " out " are 

 more objectionable than toes turned " in." When 

 toes are turned out, the fetlocks are generally 

 turned in, and animals so formed are very apt to 

 cut or brush. Both, however, are weak formations. 



23 whose hind legs are too far behind. Good pro- 

 pelling power will be ^wanting, and disease as a 

 result may be expected in the hocks. 



24 which goes either very wide or very close behind. 



25 with very straight or very bent hocks. The former 



cause undue concussion, the latter are apt to give 

 way. 



26 which is "split up," i.e. shows much daylight 



between his thighs. Propelling power comes from 

 behind, and must be deficient in horses without 

 due muscular development between the thighs. 



27 with flat feet or over-large feet, also with very small 



feet. Medium size are the best. 



28 with one foot smaller than another. 



29. A goose rump is not objectionable as a mechanical formation, but 

 it is ugly. 



