CONFORMATION 333 



The fetlocks must be free from disease and capable 

 of full flexion ; from here we proceed to the pasterns ; 

 and the intending buyer must keep his eyes open, as a 

 great deal of information can be gained from the 

 conformation in this region, though some latitude 

 must be allowed in the case of aged hunters, more 

 especially if they have done a lot of work. 



The ideal pastern is one with a moderate degree 

 of obliquity — broad in front, deep from back to front, 

 and well rounded at the sides. It must be covered 

 with thin skin (clean pasterns). Pasterns that are 

 too oblique, too long, or light in bone, are of bad 

 conformation, whilst short, upright pasterns are 

 extremely objectionable, and generally the result of 

 lameness, more especially if one pastern is short and 

 upright, and the other oblique. Do not purchase a 

 hunter with pasterns of this description. 



Windgalls, ringbone, and other exostoses are very 

 common about the pasterns, and, of course, fatal 

 to a horse's value (excepting the first-named). An- 

 other point of importance is the tendency, through 

 premature wear, or, it may be, through too much 

 work, of the fetlock joints to become puffy, but in 

 these cases the fore limbs will probably be over- 

 bent. 



Much the same remarks are applicable to the hind 

 fetlocks and pasterns. 



The feet must be sound — concave on their lower 

 surface, proportionate in size, of good slope, well 

 open at the heels, neither contracted nor cracked, 

 both representing unsoundness. 



