HORSES TO JUMP 115 



Horses with narrow chests and tied in at the 

 elbow (i.e. elbows close in to the body, and 

 consequent lack of freedom) should be avoided. 

 Well-spruni,^ round ribs and a good deep girth 

 are essential for a hunter. The forearms and 

 lower thigh should be proportionately powerful 

 to the size of the horse. A nice length of rein 

 is necessary for a pleasant ride. The way the 

 head is put on the neck will denote the likeli- 

 hood of whistling. There should be ample 

 width underneath between the jaws for freedom 

 of respiration and room for the windpipe. All 

 other points, such as the feet, joints, limbs, etc., 

 should be considered from the point of view of 

 soundness. Avoid any abnormal malforma- 

 tion, i.e. pasterns should neither be too long 

 and sloping, nor yet too short and upright ; a 

 horse should neither be back at the knees nor 

 yet stand over. Feet should neither be too flat 

 nor long and low at the heel, nor should they 

 be too short and " boxy." The frog, however, 

 should be large and well-developed. 

 Toes turned in or out produce faulty action and 

 cause undue strain on the ligaments on the 

 outside or inside of the legs respectively. Feet 

 that are too long and low at the heel bring 

 undue strain on the back tendons. 

 Diminished bone measurement below the knee, 



