26 CONFORMATION OF 



parallel ; as its Inclination backward is usually regu- 

 lated by the degree to which the shoulder-blade inclines 

 forward. 



The fore -arm, usually called the arm of the horse, cannot 

 be too large, wide, and muscular ; a small fore-arm is an 

 indication of w^eakness. All animals intended for rapid 

 progression have this part long likewise : — the knee of the 

 greyhound is but three or four inches from the ground ; — but 

 though its length is favourable to speed, it is not found to 

 add to the ease of the rider ; and thus horses for cantering, 

 or for the paces of the riding-school generally, are preferred 

 with short fore-arms. 



The knee of the horse corresponds with the human wrist. 

 Like the joints generally, it cannot well be too large, for by 

 means of its extent the muscular and ligamentous connexion 

 is increased, and the stability of the limbs in proportion 

 augmented : by this form also the tendinous insertions have 

 their power increased. The knee should be carefully ex- 

 amined, to see wdiether the skin has been broken by falls ; 

 and great caution is necessary in this, for the hair sometimes 

 grows so w^ell over the scar as to leave it hardly discernible. 

 Horse dealers likewise hide the blemish by blackening the 

 part. It does not, however, follow that a mark or scar 

 always indicates a stumbler ; and persons are too apt to 

 forget, that the safest horse may by an unavoidable accident 

 fall ; and the circumstance will not influence his future 

 manner of going, unless the cicatrix should be of such 

 extent as to interfere with the motion of the joint : if, 

 therefore, the arm and fore-arm be strong, the fore-hand 

 high, and the horse show good action, he should not be re- 

 jected wholly for an accidental blemish, which is no un- 

 soundness. 



The canon or shank follows the knee, and the perfection 

 of its form throughout is important. As here are no fleshy 

 masses, but almost purely tendinous matter, and as the bone 

 itself is sufficiently solid, so it is not the circumference, but 

 the breadth of the part, that is requisite to form a good 

 shank. An attention to the osteology will show, that there 

 is an especial contrivance behind the knee to give an ad- 

 vantageous insertion to some of the flexor tendons. When 

 this bony projection behind the knees, called the trapezium. 



