22 THE HORSE BOOK. 



ably fixed characteristic. I mark it the most 

 important of all when it is accompanied by 

 soundness and desirable conformation in other 

 points. 



A lot of stock phrases have been trotted out 

 from time immemorial to govern the selection 

 of a horse. Some of them need puncturing. 

 One of the most glibly quoted is ^'no foot, no 

 horse.'' Experience of later day methods has 

 suggested another axiom to me which should 

 gain as wide a vogue — *'no top, no price.'' A 

 horse may be the soundest on earth and he will 

 not bring a good price unless he has a good top 

 to go with his soundness. Both top and bottom 

 are required. Bear in mind this new proverb 

 as well as the old one. No one should buy an 

 unsound horse, but neither should he buy a 

 sound one if he has nothing else to recommend 

 him. 



We have also heard much about hereditary 

 unsoundness. I have never seen a foal unsound 

 at birth, but I have seen hundreds ruined by 

 faulty environment. What we must fight shy of 

 primarily is formation so faulty as to predis- 

 pose to unsoundness. A blemish which is the 

 result of an accident pure and simple and aris- 

 ing on a normal joint, for instance, will not be 

 transmitted. Narrow round hocks, from their 

 insufficient carrying capacity, are predisposed 

 to bone and bog spavins. Sickle hocks invite 

 curbs. Short straight pasterns and cramped 



