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foot. The pastern joints should be smooth, set true, and in con- 

 formity with other parts of the limb " ; the pasterns long, strong, 

 and clean, slanting at an angle of 45 from the ground. 

 This provides sufficient elasticity to prevent the different unsound- 

 nesses produced by concussion, and gives a comfortable seat for 

 a man in the saddle. Long pasterns are weak and liable to snap, 

 and result in a " break down " when going at high speed. A long 

 pastern is not so necessary behind, as there is less concussion on 

 the hind limbs. 



The arm should be muscular and strong, and the humerus 

 short and not too far out of the line of the leg below, to give 

 style and an upright appearance ; and free at the elbow to permit 

 the insertion of the hand. *If the elbow is too close or tied in, the 

 toes point out ; or if too loose and open, the toes turn in, and the 

 action becomes awkward, if not dangerous. The space between 

 the forelegs should not be too wide, the forearm long, wide and well 

 muscled. A strong knee, broad in front, borne by a short, clean, 

 wide cannon bone, with the sinew attached well back, and the 

 pisiform bone, forming the projection behind the knee, sharp and 

 prominent, are most important. 



The foot should be of medium size and firm texture, wide, 

 moderately upright, high at the heel, concave below, thoroughly 

 sound, and have a healthy appearance, indicated by an oily coat 

 of natural wax ; the springy frog showing the traces of regular 

 usage as a buffer, the result of touching the ground at each step. 

 Contraction, brittleness, and flatness, are the serious and common 

 defects in horses' feet. 



The whole appearance should be suggestive of speed, and to 

 obtain this, free, smooth and true movement is essential. The 

 gallop is the natural gait of a Thoroughbred, and the action in 

 trotting is low. 



The early Thoroughbreds, like their Eastern ancestors, were of 

 various colours, but for many years bays and browns have 

 predominated. Chestnut comes next, blacks are unusual, and grey 

 has practically disappeared. Dun is not a Thoroughbred colour. 



The part played by the Thoroughbred on the racecourse naturally 

 bulks most largely in the popular eye, but the breed is no less 

 distinguished for its intrinsic and utilitarian value. It is not too 

 much to say that there is hardly a breed of light horses in the 

 world that is not deeply indebted to the Thoroughbred, and for long 

 past, but particularly during the last 50 years, specimens of the 

 breed have been purchased in large numbers by the Governments 

 and private individuals of nearly all countries in which horses 

 constitute an important branch of live stock. 



In addition to speed, the Thoroughbred imparts staying power, 

 endurance, and the spirit to keep going till the last gasp. 



HUNTERS. 



The Hunter can hardly be regarded as a distinct pure breed at 

 present, but in numbers and value, is of such importance, from both 

 a financial and utilitarian point of view, as to demand a separate and 

 detailed description. The majority of Hunters are not pure bred 



30564 B 



