HOW TO BUY A HORSE 405 



and is equal to a third, less or more, of the distance he has 

 actually travelled. The fore-legs should be set well under 

 the fore part of the shoulder, affording ample support to it ; 

 such as have their legs placed forward, possess neither power 

 nor action. When the legs are viewed sideways or in profile, 

 they should be nearly straight, as in our representation of 

 the horse, plate 1 ; but when horses have what are called 

 calf-knees, that is, with a slight inclination inwards, and 

 with the shank sloping forwards, it is a certain sign of 

 weakness, and such horses will always mofe easily knock up 

 with hard work than those which have straight or even 

 prominent knees. 



The hind legs should either be straight from the hock 

 downwards, or having a slight inclination under the belly 

 Horses so formed are for the most part low in the rump, ilnd 

 will throw out their legs well under them when in action. 

 On the contrary, horses which throw their legs outward ate 

 always disagreeable to ride, and seldom work well. Horses 

 that stand with their hind legs much under them, and at 

 the same time which droop in the hind-quarters, may be 

 suspected to be diseased in the spine or the kidneys, and 

 should be carefully examined on those points ; and while 

 doing so, on no account permit a dealer's servant to hold up 

 the horse by the bridle, or to stand on rising ground. This 

 should be most especially attended to while examining the 

 legs. It is the invariable practice of dealers' grooms when 

 exhibiting a horse to throw the snaffle and curb reins over 

 the head, and to hold him back with the latter, while he 

 touches him up behind with a long whip, which has the 

 effect of making him elevate his head, and brings him to 

 his mettle, and therefore he hardly knows where he places 

 his feet ; consequently he will both bend his knees and 

 throw out his feet much more than he does in his ordinary 



