ELEMENTS OF HIPPOLOGY. 



127 



the wall at the toe. The position of this line also shows the 

 thickness of the sole. 



A saddle-horse should not have too large a foot. A large 

 foot is characteristic of a slow, lymphatic animal. Its horn is 

 usually less dense than in a smaller foot on a horse of the same 

 size. Such a horse is more liable to diseases of the feet when 



Figure 84. — The Hoof. 



the horse is called on to do fast work. Large feet belong properly 

 to draft-horses. 



The foot should not be too small,, for its smallness will 

 usually be at the expense of thickness of wall. 



The feet should be of the same size, allowing for the differ- 

 ence in shape in fore and hind feet, and the angle of the wall at 

 the toe should be about forty-five degrees, getting gradually 

 more nearly vertical as it approaches the heels. 



If the angle at the toe is much less than forty-five degrees, 

 the horse is said to be flat-footed. . This is usually accompanied 

 by a flat sole and a predisposition to disease. 



