M ' AMERICAN FARMER'S HORSE BOOK. 



It is simply either the effect of some disease of the shoulder 

 or of the lower joint of the leg, or is a bad habit resulting 

 from defective structure. 



In the latter case, the trouble arises from the feet being 

 too nearly in line with the direction of the leg. From the 

 hoof to the upper pastern joint, the ankle should incline at 

 an angle of about forty-five degrees. Sometimes, however, 

 one meets with a horse whose ankle is stuck straight down 

 into the top of the hoof, like a post in the ground, the hoof 

 being erect and round like a cup. Such an animal is almost 

 sure to be a noted stumbler. It would be folly, indeed, to 

 buy or trade for him without first critically examining his 

 knees, and making minute inquiries as to his habits. 



The habitual stumbler is not only slow and uncertain in 

 his movements, but is really dangerous in nearly every ca 

 pacity in which he can be used. If he is under the saddle, 

 the rider runs a constant risk of being pitched over his head 

 and carried home with a fractured limb or a broken neck. In 

 the wagon, he is almost sure to fall while ascending the 

 steepest hill, and when, of course, his services are most 

 needed. Not content with simply breaking the shafts, when 

 hitched to a buggy or carriage, he has the most exasperating 

 fashion of going through with his peculiar evolutions in the 

 midst of the largest crowd to be found in the whole day's 

 travel, when one's feelings are most likely to be mortified by 

 such awkwardness. To drive him by the side of a young or 

 skittish horse would be almost sure to end in a runaway, from 

 his companion's fright when he falls down. 



There is but one place for the stumbler. That is in the 

 plow. Here he can do no harm, if hitched up alone, or with 

 an old or gentle horse. Beware of a stumbler. His possesssor 

 is cheated, no matter how low the terms upon which he fs 

 purchased. 



r 



SWAY- BACK. 



This is not a disease, but a deformity, produced by persons 

 jumping upon the back of the young colt before it is strong 



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