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ELEMENTS OF HIPPOLOGY. 



sure indication of it. A horse that is sound always stands with 

 his front feet equally advanced. By a provision of Nature, the 

 weight-bearing muscles of his front legs are so arranged that 

 when he stands square in front they are at rest. This is not so 

 behind. There he is constantly shifting his burden; one leg 

 supports it while the other rests. 



Figure 103. — Pointing a Toe. 



If a horse is observed while standing to advance one front 

 foot, or draw it back, resting it on toe or heel, pointing it, as it 

 is called, he is unsound. If he rests the foot on the toe, it is to 

 relieve pain at the heel, to straighten out the flexing ligaments, 

 and the inference is that he has navicular disease (Figure 103). 



