THE HEAVY HARNESS HORSE TYPE 67 



The pasterns should stand at an angle of about 45 degrees with 

 the floor and be long, smooth, and springy. As the horse stands 

 naturally the pasterns should be well sustained, with no tend- 

 ency to drop low and appear weak. If the pastern is short or 

 straight an easy gait cannot be assumed, and the conditions 

 promote foot and leg diseases. A correct pastern at 45 degrees 

 allows the proper placing of the foot, the frog striking first, with 

 the resulting jar or concussion less than it would be otherwise. 

 The feet are most important, and a capable judge of the horse 

 will give them almost a first consideration. These should be of 

 suitable size, round, wide at top, well developed at heel, and pref- 

 erably of dark, hard bone. Ample size is important, for a small 

 foot in the horse presages trouble. The hind part, or heel, should 

 be wide and of reasonable depth, a low heel and flat foot being 

 associated with poor feet. The bottom of the foot, or sole, 

 should be concave and well arched. In a well-formed foot the 

 frog should be wide at the heel, be strongly developed, and 

 just touch the ground when the horse is at rest. Passing about 

 the frog in a continuation of the wall of the hoof from behind 

 is the bar of the foot. This bar helps to hold the sole of the 

 foot together and should be strong and show character. The 

 front feet are usually rounder than the hind and are also more 

 subject to injury and more commonly defective than the hind feet. 

 Action in the heavy harness horse is an absolute requirement. 

 People vary in the degree to which they desire this. The lover 

 of the Hackney desires a rather high, bold knee action of a flashy 

 sort, with a notable elevation of the foot at its highest point. The 

 hind legs have a powerful movement, the hocks are strongly bent, 

 or flexed, and the legs are carried well up under the body. This 

 is what is known as a " trappy gait," and such a horse as a " high- 

 stepper." Such a gait is not consistent with the best speed, and 

 wise lovers of the horse prefer less high action and more reach 

 and power. Further, with high knee action comes a greater con- 

 cussion to limbs and feet and consequently greater punishment 

 and more rapid wearing out of the horse than would otherwise be 

 the case. Especially is this true on the city pavement. Trueness 

 of action is essential, whether a high-stepper or not, the legs be- 

 ing carried forward in the same general line and the feet moved 



