62 THE PEKFECT HOESE. 



pendicular line, there will be less strain brought to bear 

 upon this annula ligament, which keeps it in its place ; 

 and it will be able to bear the strain which the horse 

 with every stride or leap puts upon it. But if any 

 considerable variation from this formation occurs, either 

 by the rounding of the leg-bone at this point or the 

 turning-in of the hocks towards each other, there will 

 be a corresponding friction and strain brought to bear 

 upon the annular ligament. The sinew will be liable 

 to start out completely from its natural position, the 

 beautiful arrangement of Nature at this point disrupted, 

 and an unseemly tumor be the result. This tumor is 

 the airh. Once formed, the joint is forever impaired. 

 The sinew, you see, is actually torn out of its place ; the 

 band that should have held it in its natural position is 

 unduly strained or parted ; and perpetual weakness is 

 the result. In purchasing, beware of a curb. Any 

 protuberance, however slight, at this point, should be 

 regarded with grave suspicion ; and the money which 

 you were to give for the horse, keep in your pocket. 

 In addition to the curb, another evidence of unsound- 

 ness is to be looked for at this locality. I refer to 

 the spavin. The bones of the hock are the natural 

 seat of this disorder or infliction. Protection from 

 this terrible evil lies in the size and symmetry of 

 the hock-bones. Coarse-looking and strong joints are 

 not likely to get out of order; but your smooth, neat, 

 dandy-looking joints rarely, if ever, stand any consid- 

 erable amount of work. I do not think that spavin, in 



