30 CONFORMATION OF 



originally, when the heels are, in the smith's language, 

 wi7-ed and drawn in, and the whole circumference of the 

 hoof is perhaps encircled with rings, reject such a horse, 

 let him go as he will, for he cannot long remain sound. 

 When a horse's foot is held up, the sole should present a 

 concave surface ; if it be less concave than natural, that 

 sole is weak, and will not bear much pressure ; and it is 

 more than probable it will continue lessening in concavity 

 until it becomes a plane, when every subsequent shoeing 

 will endanger the laming of the animal. White feet are by 

 some people thought to be objectionable on this account ; 

 they being considered particularly liable to become flat in 

 the sole. Corns are another evil to which horses' feet are 

 very liable ; and, unless the shoes are removed during the 

 examination of a horse, it is not easy to detect them : though, 

 when the foot is well picked out, if a corn has been of long 

 standing, some marks of former cuttings out will probably 

 appear under the heel of the shoe. Another very serious 

 complaint is a brittleness of hoof, which may be generally 

 detected by the marks of the fragile parts detaching them- 

 selves from every old nail-hole. This kind of foot, particu- 

 larly in hot weather, breaks away, till there is no room for 

 the nails to fasten, when the horse, of course, becomes useless. 

 In an examination of the foot, the eye should also be directed 

 to the wearing of the shoe: if it be unequally worn, particu- 

 larly if the toe be worn down, such a horse is probably a 

 stumbler, and does not set his foot evenly on the ground, 

 either from defective feet or some more serious reason to be 

 named hereafter. 



On a review of the conformation of the fore extremities, 

 it may be remarked, that, although the hinder limbs appear 

 to be more particularly concerned in the quickness of the 

 progression, yet that upon a proper form and a true direction 

 of the various component parts of the fore limbs must de- 

 pend the elasticity, ease, and safety of the movements. 

 Viewed anteriorly, the legs should stand rather widest at 

 the upper part, inclining a little inwards as they approach 

 the ground. Viev.-ed laterally, they should be seen to stand 

 in a direct line downwards, neither forwards nor backwards ; 

 and the toe should naturally place itself under the point of 

 the arm or shoulder. If the foot stands beyond this, but 



