34 THE NEW POCKET FARRIEB. 



and in summer there appears a kind of small dry scab 

 along this channel ; and in winter there issues out a hu- 

 midity, like the water from the legs. A horse may work 

 notwithstanding this disorder, for it seldom lames him , 

 it sometimes occasions a stiffness in the legs, and makes 

 them trot like foxes, without bending their joints. The 

 hind legs should be lean, clean, flat, and sinewy ; for if 

 fat, they will not bear labour; if swelled, the grease is 

 molten into them ; if scabbed above the pasterns, it is 

 the scratches, and if he has chaps under the pasterns he 

 has what is generally called the Rains. If he has a 

 good buttock, his tail cannot stand ill, but will be broad, 

 high, flat, and couched a little inward. 



A WALK AND TROT IN HAND. 



Having with care examined the horse, let him be run 

 in hand a gentle trot ; by this you will soon perceive if 

 he is lame or not. Make the man lead him by the end 

 of the bridle, as in this case you cannot be deceived by 

 the man's being too near him. The far fore leg, and 

 near hind leg, or the near fore leg, and far hind leg, 

 should move and go forward at one and the same time ; 

 and in this motion, the nearer the horse takes his limbs 

 from the ground, the opener, the evener, and the shorter 

 is his pace. 



FORGING 



If he takes up his feet slovenly, it shows stumbling or 

 lameness ; to tread narrow, or cross, shows interfering, 

 or failing ; to step uneven, shows weariness, and if he 

 treads long, you may be apprehensive he forges, by 

 which I mean, that when he walks, or trots, he strikes 



