68 



CHAP. xiav. 



ON STANDING. 



THAT a horse sliould stand well on his legi 

 is of the greatest consequence, and though in 

 this position the animal be completely at rest, 

 yet a proficient can readily tell whether the 

 horse be good or bad before he even stirs a 

 foot. Observe, when a horse stands, that he 

 does not draw his legs under him, with his 

 chest projecting, his knees crippled or bent, 

 and his legs arched as if he were preparing to 

 lie down. The reason of his standing thus is 

 from stiffness in the knees, and too great an 

 uprightness in his shoulders, the points not 

 falling backwards as before described. This 

 position he will retain when he is in motion ; 

 his forehand will proje6l too much ; and by 

 throwing the weight of the body too forward 

 he will most likely come down. Another rea- 

 son why a horse stands in this m.anncr is from 



