42 HOW TO JUDGE A HORSE. 



oflering, with the whole iuside surface of the shoulder, 

 as far down as the elbow, fastening points for the con- 

 necting muscles, the position of the highest point of 

 the column to the basis of the hoof, is not of so much 

 concern as in the hind leg. It will bo pretty near 

 correct, to consider the elbow joint as the chief sup- 

 jiortiug point for the rump, and its position as decid- 

 ing. In the normal position, the elbow joint stands 

 perpendicularly over the fetlock joint, and generally 

 a line from the shoulder joint will meet the toe of tlie 

 Loof. If we examine the deviations from this rule, 

 ■ne will find them to be in two direction?. In the 

 /'orf-stanrUiK/ or stretched position, the fetlock joint 

 fiiUs forward of the line from the elbow joint ; in the! 

 iinder-s/aiulln(j, behind the same. In the first case, 

 the foot stands too far forward ; in the latter, too tar 

 under the body. 



In judging the /orc-sdtnding ]>o.sitioii, wo will find 

 tli;it all inusoles and sinews, located on the rear side 

 of the leg, not only including the tlexors of the 

 lower leg from the knee down, but, also, the extensors 

 acting on the elbow lever, have to work and carry 

 M'eight in an iucrensed proportion; the conse- 

 <jnence being that horses, with this formation, fre- 

 «piently strain Uieir sinews, especially if the fetlock 

 is very long. This defect will be augmented, if the 

 leg is cn{f-kneed — that means, if the knee stands be- 



