THE SKELETON. 



43 



liiuil the Hue. At all events, the /ure-standi/uj positiou 



is by fur more injurious in the ^'o- 8. 



fore leg than the umhr-standing 



in the hind leg. In all the 



different gaits, the fore leg has 



to exert its greatest activity, 



and is most imperiled, while 



being sti'etched forwaid and in 



taking np the burden. Bat, it 



is apparent, that this position 



must increase the force of the 



weight and the danger of over- „ , ,. „ 

 "^ ^ Fore-standinfT, Coii- 



burdeuing the sinews. nected With Calf-Knee. 



The u)i(kr-sfttn(U)uj position is, under circum- 

 stances, a defect without consequences — more of an 

 eye-sore— but maj' become a serious blemish. The 

 consequence of this position is, generally, a pro- 

 truding crooked knee, less visible in young horses, 

 but more developed in older horses, even to buck-Jcnees. 

 If, with the bHcI:-Ii->u'e is connected a long and elastic 

 fetlock, and a long arm bone (Fig. 10), then such 

 horses are quite fit for any service, and go safe. 



If we only find a crooked knee, while the fetlock 

 is short and straight, as in Fig. 9, then they go very 

 uuisafe and are not fit for saddle use. 



THE PUorouTioNs OF foi:e and hind legs. 



To facilitate a rogidar movement of tlie fore and 



