^o The Compkat Jochy^ 



Bow Joint are made taper, leflening by cl^grees, and be well fit fhed ; all 

 which, if they be not, (hews Weakncfs and imaprnefs for Service; after 

 which take fpecial notice of the Hock or middle Joint, and with your Hand 

 feiil if it be well knit, full of Giittle?, Sinews ard Ligaments, that it be not 

 flefhy nor fwelled, and that it have large Veins, be pliant and apt to bend 

 at each Motion of the Horfe, fcmeihing bowing it muft be and firm. All 

 thefe are good Sign?. , but if there be Cuts, Scars, or Feftt-rs in the infide 

 of the Joint, or clfewhere, it is dangerous and not eafie to be cured. 



H there happen any fwelling or Heat over the Joints in general, then it 

 is no other but a Blow ; but obferve, if fuch fwelling be only in one place, 

 and that on the inridfc,inthe hollow of the Joint, and the Veins ftriu, feel 

 hot, and beat much, or throb, and that the fwelling be fofc, it is a B ood- 

 Spaven; but if brawny and bard, a Bone-Spaven ;but if it chance to be juft 

 upon the Hock or Out-Bow behind, or a little under it, then it is, or fhort- 

 ly will be, a Curb, &c. 



Now for his hinder Legs, you muft obferve whether they be fine, near, 

 and clean, full of ftrong Sinews, and no? very fat, which fhews him found 

 in tbofe Parts ; but on the contrary, if his Legs be very far, flrOiy, large, it 

 fignifies him bad for Service ; if they be tumid or fwelling, it denotes the 

 fettlings of molten Greafe there; if any Scabs happen to be fomething a- 

 bove the Pafterns, they denote the Scratches or Chops : Curs or Scars be- 

 neath them, denote Pains or Aches, all which are dangerous, and require 

 great Skill and Diligence to cure thtm. 



Now for the Tail ; it cannot ftand amifs nor out of place upon fair But- 

 tocks-, But upon an ill pair, if it be never fo well placed, it will not feem 

 handfom; the Pofture it ought to ftand in, is even with the parting of the 

 Buttocks, that is broad, high, fmooth, and (bmewhat bending inward, i^efhy 

 and of a good length, briftly and curled, the length being not only a 

 Beauty, but very neceffary for him to defend hin.felf with, againft Wafps, 

 Hornets, and Flies, tho' many defire to have him Cut tail'd. 



But in general, the whole Body muft be framed according to the molt 

 expert Horfeftien's Opinions, thus, to have the Head and Legs of a Stag, the 

 Ears and Tail of a Fox, the Neck of a Swan, the Breaft of a Lyon, the But- 

 tocks of a Woman, and the Feet of an Afs. The perfed good Horfe thus Vir- 

 gU in his Georgkks defcribes, the which to infert may not be amifs. 



IVith Head advanced high, at firfi, the Kingh Colt doth face. 



His tender Limbs aloft be hftSj as well becomes his Race; 



And foremof ftill he goes, and through the Stream he makes his way^ 



And 'ventures firjt the Bridge, no (udden found doth him affray » 



High crefted is his Necky and eke his Neck is framed fmaU, 



fits Billy gmnt^ bis Back ts bmd, and Bnafied big mtbaL 



