THE SELECTION OF A HORSE 3 



Whilst examining the head, we should notice 

 whether it is put on right, and whether there is plenty 

 of room between the jaw bones for the windpipe, etc., 

 also we should see if the pipe itself feels big, and 

 hangs free of the neck, which should be of a moderate 

 length, neither long nor short, nicely arched and thick 

 through, especially behind the ears — a sign of good 

 constitution. 



We should next examine the feet. If they are not 

 right have nothing to do with the horse, as he will not 

 be pleasant to ride. Both fore feet should be the same 

 size, round and strong looking, not over-high or low 

 at the heel, when viewed from the side, and the coronary 

 band just above the hoof should be well developed, soft 

 and springy to the touch, as it is from this part that 

 the horn of the hoof draws its nourishment. The sole 

 of the foot should be concave — convexity points to 

 disease — ^the frog large and healthy ; the heels should 

 show no sign of wiring in, and the size of the feet should 

 be in proportion to the size of the bone of the leg and 

 pastern. None of the feet should turn out, the horse 

 should stand and move perfectly straight ; this is most 

 important. 



The leg should measure well both above and helow 

 the knee, the muscles at the back of the forearm be 

 well developed, and the tendons clean and large, standing 

 well out from the cannon bone, which should be flat, i.e., 

 looking wide from the side and somewhat narrow from 

 the front. The elbow should be parallel with the sides, 

 though fast horses will generally be found to have 

 them slightly turned out ; a turned in elbow is often 

 associated ^vith a turned out foot and a prominent 

 shoulder point, which is a wrong formation making a 

 horse liable to hit his joints. The knees and hocks 



