SHAPE. 1 1 



the hind legs as it does near the fore legs. A horse 

 which looks light in the stomach when he is fat in 

 his limbs will not be so strong or enduring as a 

 horse which looks thick in the middle at all times. 



A side-view is also the proper place to judge of a 

 horse's shoulder ; but, as that is one of the most 

 difficult and most important points to settle about in 

 a horse, I shall speak of it separately. 



The second view to be taken of a horse is to 

 stand in front of him. From this point you can 

 observe the width of a horse's chest and shoulders, 

 and whether his toes are turned out or in. As re- 

 gards the latter point, I need not say that a horse's 

 feet should be straight ; but although turning their 

 toes out or in are both faults, still there is a very 

 wide difference between them. 



Horses that turn their toes out may be ridden 

 with pleasure, and are often good-tempered and have 

 good shoulders, whereas horses that turn their toes 

 in are often morose in their tempers and clumsy in 

 their action. I should also say that it is better for 

 a horse to turn both toes out than to turn one toe 

 out ; while, on the other hand, it is worse for a horse 

 to turn both toes in than to turn one in. 



The front view is also the proper place to detect 

 spavins in a horse ; but this also is an unsoundness, 

 and will be treated of as such. 



It is generally considered that a moderately 

 narrow chest is preferable to a wide one, but I do 



