38 THE STOCK owner's ADVISER. 



and neither too hard and hrittle nor too soft; the lieels should be 

 fii-ni, and not spongy and rotten; the frogs horny and drv, and 

 the sole a little hollow. The foot should not be flat or thin in the 

 wall. Such feet will never disappoint yonr expectations, and 

 such only should be chosen. The haunches should be well de- 

 veloped and not higher than the shoulders. The thigh should be 

 well niusek'd, and the hind-quarter should not be too short. The 

 hock should not be tied in below nor sickle shaped; the oscalees 

 should be of medium size. 



The wind of the horse should not be overlooked, and may be 

 easily judged by noticing the flanks and by putting him to exer- 

 tion. The temper of the horse should be particularly attended 

 to. Avoid a fearful horse, which you may know at first sight by 

 his starting, crouching, or creeping if you approach him. A hot 

 and fretful horse is also to be avoided, but be careful to distin- 

 guish between a hot, fretful horse and one that is eager and 

 craving. The former begins to fret the moment he is out of the 

 stable, and continues in that .humor till he has quite fatigued 

 himself; but the latter only endeavors to be foremost in the field, 

 and is truly valuable; he has those qualities that resemble pru- 

 dence and courage; the other those of intemperate heat and rash- 

 ness. His head should not be heavy, nor his neck thick and 

 gross. A horse that goes with his heels very wide seldom moves 

 well, and one that has them too near will chafe and cut his legs 

 by crossing them. Fleshy legged horses are generally subject to 

 Grease and other infirmities of that kind, and therefore should 

 not be chosen. 



A horse that goes with his forefeet low is apt to stumble. 

 Some go so near the ground that they stumble on even roads, 

 and must be shod with heavy shoes. Care shoidd be taken that 

 the horse does not cut one leg with the other. A horse that goes 

 near the ground will cut the low side of the fetlock joint, but 

 one that goes high cuts l)elow the knee, which is called the 

 speedy cut. A horse that lifts his feet high generally trots fast, 

 but is not the easiest for his rider, nor for his own feet on hard 



