02 THE HORSE. 



understanding that the disease under which he is labor- 

 ing was the strangles only, and that he was, in other 

 respects, sound, you may return him if the complaint is 

 found to be the vives, on the score of his not fulfilling 

 the conditions of the warranty. 



BENT BEFORE. 



When the fore-legs of the horse are bent forward at 

 the knee, he is said to be bent before: this may proceed 

 from overwork, or from j)ain in the feet resulting from 

 contraction, inflammation, etc., but it more frequently 

 proceeds from flat feet. In these cases, the animal is 



Unsoukd. 



When the cause does not consist in pain, and when the 

 deviation from the natural line is but slight, and the 

 horse can do his proper work without inconvenience, 

 even then, as in the case of total blindness, the defect 

 may be visible, but he is Soukd. 



When the profile of the fore-legs has a deviation of 

 anytliing more than the very slightest, it is a Blemish. 



You must not be talked over into the belief that the 

 horse wasdef<u*med to this extent when he was foaled, and 

 that it is not, therefore, the result of hard work or mis- 

 management, for though all colts are foaled crooked, or 

 bent before, they remain so for a short time only. 



Bent-legged horses have a reputation for good courage; 

 if they are bent but slightly, they are frequently safe and 

 good saddle-horses. They are, however, best adnpfed 

 to harness- work; and, when much l)ent, should be 

 Avorked in double harness, so that they may be free 

 from any weight on the back. 



UPRIGHT SHOULDERS. 



Horses may l)e sound and yet unsafe to ride. 

 Amongst these are such as have upright shoulders, 

 which result in some instances from bent leers. 



