HOW TO KNOW HIM. 45 



out of the toe when the horse is in motion, styled 

 " paddling." The horse with an elbow so placed will 

 also be a "brusher;" that is, he will continually be 

 striking the toe of one foot against the opposite ankle. 

 When, on the other hand, the elbow is turned out, the toe 

 is generally turned in ; which is a fault of construction 

 far worse than the former one. Such a horse is neither 

 speedy, nor safe to ride. I do not wish to be under- 

 stood as saying that no horse with his toes turned in 

 was ever speedy ; for such instances are seen every year 

 on the road or track : but, in these cases, the turning-in 

 of the toes was due to the peculiar way in which the 

 hoof itself was set on, and not to the construction of 

 the elbow. But, when the elbow is turned out, you 

 will never find speed. In support of this opinion 

 many high authorities could be quoted. 



As regards the knees, they should never be bent 

 either forward or backward; although some defend a 

 slight backward curve, as a sure sign that the horse can 

 never stumble, because, as they say, "he is so well back 

 on his knees." For myself, if the leg must lose its exact 

 perpendicular position, I should greatly prefer that it 

 should incline forward rather than backward, because, by 

 this backward inclination, the back muscles and sinews 

 of the leg are all interfered with, and positively checked 

 in their action ; while it is a fact of my own observation 

 and experience, as it is of others of wider observation 

 and larger experience than myself, that some of the 

 very safest and fastest horses ever known have been 



