THE NEW POCKET FARRIEK. 31 



usually proceeds either from some strain in working, or 

 from the horse's having continued too long in the stable, 

 or from his putting one leg over any bar, and being 

 checked by the halter, or, in a word, from any other 

 accident that confines a horse, makes him kicH or fling, 

 and bruise his cods, and there is no other way of 

 knowing this distemper, but by some outward swelling 

 upon the part. 



The coming down of the testicles proceeds from the 

 same causes, with this difference only, that it is a long 

 time of discovering itself; whereas the other may come 

 in one night. If his chine be narrow, he will never 

 carry a saddle well ; and to have it bending or saddle 

 backed, shows weakness. If his ribs be flat, there is 

 but small liberty for wind. Should his fillets hang low, 

 or weak, he will never climb a hill, or carry a burden 

 well. A belly that is clung up, or gaunt, and stones 

 hanging down loose, are signs of sickness, tenderness, 

 foundering in the body, and unaptness for. labour. His 

 buttocks should be round, plump, full, and in an even 

 level with his body : the narrow, pin buttock, the hog or 

 swine rump, and the falling and down-let buttock, shows 

 an injury in nature. The horse that is deep in his 

 girthing place, is generally of great strength. His 

 hinder thighs or gastains, should be well let down even 

 to the middle joint, thick, brawny, full, and swelling, this 

 being a great sign of strength and goodness ; lank and 

 slender thighs show disability and weakness. From the 

 thigh bone to the hock it should be pretty long, but short 

 from the hock to the pastern. Observe the middle joint 

 behind, and if it be nothing but skin and bone, veins 

 and sinews, rather a little bending than too straight, it 

 is perfect as it should be ; on the contrary should it have 

 chaps or sores on the inward bought, or bending, it 

 is a fallender. 



