OUTWARD APPEABANCE OF THE HORSE. 105 



leg. On page 103 is an illustration of a perfect hind-quarter, seen from 

 the side. On page 106 are four figures showing fair to bad hind-quar- 

 ters. The horseman, m studying his animal, should observe whether if, 

 when viewed from the side, the horse stands perpendicularly on each fool 

 alike. There should be no straddling-out, or gathering together of the 

 limbs, but he should stand straight, square and distinctly alike on each 

 limb. If he does not stand in this way, move him forward on level ground 

 and observe if, in coming to rest, he assumes the position we have describ- 

 ed ; if not, something is Avi'ong. Examine him for defects, injured back 

 or sinews, ring-bones and splints in front ; and for bone spavin, blood or 

 bog spavin, curb or thorough-pin behind. If he stands as in the figure, 

 page 103, showing good hind-quarters, the horse is right, if free from 

 other blemishes. If the fore-quarters are as shown on pages 97 and 99 

 ?ide and front view ; and, if on looking at the horse from behind, he 

 present the appearance as shown on page 107 you will have to hunt a 

 long time to find his mate. 



Look Well to the Limbs. — Study carefully whether the pasterns or 

 outline of the hock joints are nearly perpendicular or angular. Exam- 

 ine to find if they show a convex, curved projection or protuberance just 

 above the point of union with the shank bone. If not, there will be 

 little danger of curb, or of a tendency thereto. Avoid a cow-hocked 

 horse, viz: ahorse with the hocks drawn in. It is an ungainly and 

 serious malformation, for such an animal vriW be weak. Do not buy a 

 straddling horse. He may be strong and perhaps fast, but never elegant 

 in his movements. We repeat that no horse is fast because he goes wide 

 apart, though sometimes a horse is fast in spite of this defect. There- 

 fore! do not buy a straddling colt in hopes of getting a trotter. 



Medium Good to Bad Quarters. — On page 106 are four figures, side 

 views of hind-quarters. Many persons would call the one on the upper 

 left hand side, fine. It is not bad. The buttocks are round, for fat may 

 give a round buttock. But they lack character, real muscular develop- 

 ment, and the legs are too straight and far behind. 



The left hand lower figure is fair in its general outline, but the animal 

 stands too straight on the pasterns, and the legs are thrown too far for- 

 ward. Never buy a horse which, to use a horseman's phrase, "can stand 

 in a half -bushel." They are like a horse which, to use a similar phrase, 

 "can travel all day in a half-bushel." 



The right lower figure has not a bad quarter. The limbs, however, 

 are badly placed, and the position is cramped. 



The upper right hand figure is bad in every way — "goose-rumped," 

 "cat-hammed," weak in the hock and ankle, while the legs are thrown 

 to equalize thestram. 



