32 SCIENTIFIC HORSESHOEING. 



Hind Limbs. — Tlie liiiul (juurtors should be scrutinized as 

 to muscular dovelopineut. From the cotistruction of tlio liind 

 quarters, it is observable that most of the propelling power 

 comes from this source, and though the fore hand contributes 

 in a degree, yet it chietiy supports the weight and carries the 

 body; in fact, we may almost compare the hind and fore legs 

 of the horse to the drivers and forward trucks of a locomotive. 

 The shoulder-blade of the fore leg, attached only by nmscles, 

 ]»lays upon the body loosely, while the hind limb is connected 

 to it by a powerful ball- and socket-joint. The muscular de 

 velopment of the hind legs should be such as to cover any 

 ranginess of the hips, which should also be wide and level. The 

 croup from hip to tail requires length, width, atid muscle to give 

 it proportion and service. Long and muscular thighs, well 

 spread and open-angled, provide for a long, quick stride. The 

 quarters require an abundance of muscle extending well down 

 on the legs. Below^ this the gaskin, or lower thigh, should be 

 long so as to let the hock well down, and it should also be mus- 

 cular and wide. For the hock to do its work to the best ad- 

 vantage and remain free from disease, it is necessary for it to be 

 straight, broad in front, sharp behind, and free from any gum- 

 miness. Experience, knowledge and observation are essentials 

 to the accurate judgment of these various points, as I have al- 

 ready indicated. And much more might be written on the sub- 

 ject, but tlie foundation of facts which I have thus far prepared 

 will be found sufficiently broad, I trust, to include whatever may 

 be necessary to insure a ready comprehension of the essential 

 matters involved in judging light horses as most commonly pur- 

 sued, the primary object being to show that scrupulous care 

 must be constantly employed in the selection to secure a good 

 representative of the equine kind. 



