8 



part. A bending of the knee backward is called a •' calf knee,'' 

 and is very objectionable. The opposite condition is known as 

 ■' knee sprung." 



The fetlock joint should be of good size and clean, the pasterns 

 of moderate length, and form an angle of between 4;") and 60 

 degrees with the cannon bone. 



The foot should be of moderate size: a flat foot or one too 

 narrow at the heels is objectionable. 



The relative i)roportions of the shoulders and exact shape 

 desirable vary considerably in cavalry and artillery horses. 

 Thus, when speed and activity are essential, as in the cavalry 

 horse, the shoulder should be oblique (sloping), as it gives elas- 

 ticity to the gait of the horse, while for the artillery horse, work- 

 ing in harness, a straight, upright shoulder enables the pressure 

 of the collar to be more easily borne and allows the animal to 

 exert his strength at right angles to his long axis. 



The ^dthers should not be thin and high, as this conformation 

 will allow the saddle to slip too far forward and the pommel to 

 rest upon the withers. The bars of the saddle will be forced 

 against the shoulder blades, causing irritation and inflammation. 

 The withers should not be low or thick, as the saddle is then apt 

 to pinch them. 



The chest should be of moderate width and have considerable 

 depth, as a narrow chest indicates weakness, and a wide, heavy 

 chest is suitable for heavy-draft horses only. 



The capacity of the lungs is marked by the size of the chest at 

 the girth, but the stamina will depend upon the depth of the back 

 ribs. The barrel should not be broad back of the cinch, as it 

 would cause the cinch to slip forward and chafe the body just 

 back of the point of the elbow. The opposite conformation 

 would allow the saddle and cinch to slip backward. The back 

 should be short, with muscles well developed, and the upper lines 

 of the back should bend down a little behind the withers and 

 then swell out very gently to the junction of the loins, which can 

 hardly be too broad and muscular. 



The last rib should be placed close to the point of the hip, as 

 this is an indication of strength, and the horse is more easily kept 

 in good condition than one having the opposite conformation. 



A slightly arched loin is essential to the power of carrying- 

 weight: a much arched or "hog back '"is almost sure to give 



