In the Stable, Field, and on the Road. 249 



piece with their hind-feet. See that the horse throws 

 out its feet freely and lightly, stand in front of it when it 

 is trotted, and notice if it has an inward gait of action ; 

 if so, it is sure to strike one leg against the other and be 

 liable to fall, and will be a subject for throwing splints. 

 Ii the horse has an inward gait of going, chalk the inside 

 of its hoof and then trot it ; if the chalk marks are on 

 its fetlock it will be a brusher, but if on the knee joint 

 it is a speedy-cutter, which is the worst form of cutting, 

 as the horse is apt to knock one leg from under it with 

 the other, the result being a severe fall and broken knees 

 to the horse, and perhaps a broken neck to the rider or 

 driver. After the horse has been examined in front, 

 stand behind it whilst being walked and trotted, and you 

 will then be able to detect the least uneasiness in its 

 going, and ascertain if it is a loose goer. Some horses 

 have an outward gait of going, and look as if they tried 

 to throw away their feet at every step; this kind of 

 action is objectionable, as a horse with such an action 

 soon tires on a journey. Horses with a short confined 

 step can never have good action, and are always dis- 

 agreeable to ride. In walking, the knee should be 

 moderately bent, but only sufficiently so to enable the 

 horse to walk clear of the stones and other objects he 

 may meet with on the road, and when the foot is set 

 down the foot should fall flat, so that the toe does not 

 strike the ground first. The legs should be thrown 

 straight out, bearing neither to the right or left, nor 

 should the sole be seen by a person standing on either 

 side. In the larger-sized horses the step should be 

 lengthy and regular, in the smaller-sized smart and 



