Faulty Action 143 



Horses differ in the amount of food required to 

 produce best results, just as they do in other ways. 

 No rule can be made that will apply to all. One horse 

 may keep strong and in fine condition on hay alone, 

 while another may require ten or fifteen quarts of 

 oats daily, in addition, to keep him right. In cases 

 in which action contributes to the horse's value, he 

 must also look well. This often complicates the 

 feeding question, as an excess of hay in the ration 

 sometimes distends the abdomen and gives the horse 

 an unsightly appearance, particularly if he be slightly 

 cow-bellied. To avoid this, one should feed a nu- 

 tritious ration, rather concentrated in its nature, 

 then give regular exercise to prevent the spirits from 

 becoming exuberant (p. 147). 



INJURIOUS RESULTS OF FAULTY ACTION 



Not only is faulty action unsightly, but it results 

 in many disagreeable, annoying and injurious de- 

 fects. For convenience these may be divided into 

 two classes: those caused by the hind and fore feet 

 striking, variously referred to as over-reaching, 

 forging and chcking; and those due to the feet on 

 either side hitting, referred to as interfering, striking, 

 cutting and brushing. 



Over-reaching, forging and clicking. — These defects 

 result from any cause that prevents the horse from 

 getting his forefeet out of the way of the hind ones 



