Conformation and Action 133 



the conformation of the pasterns, for example, 

 length and obliquity usually favor lightness and 

 elasticity of the tread, yet this is not always the 

 case, as we find many heavy-going horses of this 

 conformation ; in the case of a horse with short 

 pasterns and straight shoulders, which as a rule 

 produce heavy movements, this is not always 

 true, as we not infrequently find straight-shouldered, 

 short-pasterned horses that step lightly. These 

 exceptions are undoubtedly referable to the nervous 

 system. In the former case the horse is of a lym- 

 phatic temperament, lacking zest in his labors for 

 the want of tone in his nervous system, while in the 

 latter case he is of a nervous disposition and is a 

 willing and enduring worker in his range. 



With few exceptions, however, the action is refer- 

 able to the conformation, and defects in the legs 

 show themselves with almost unvarying regularity 

 in their effect upon the action. Thus the horse that 

 stands with his front feet placed wide apart has a 

 tendency to straddle ; the knock-kneed one gener- 

 ally dishes ; the one that toes-in winds out, while 

 the one that toes-out winds in. The horse with 

 his hocks wide apart and his feet close together 

 winds his hocks outward ; the sickle-hocked one 

 winds his feet outward; while the horse with his 

 hocks placed too far behind has a peculiar dragging 

 movement of the hind legs. Not only the confor- 

 mation of the legs but that of the body also indi- 



