28o THE FORE LIMB. 



below the elbow. On p. i88, 1 have alluded to its compara- 

 tive length. In Figs. 275, 277, 322, 351, 369, and 404, are 

 shown well-shaped fore-arms ; in Figs. 363, 386, and 

 422, mean ones. Although a race-horse might have a 

 somewhat light fore-arm without much detriment, it is 

 imperative for the jumper to be strong in this part ; for 

 in leaping, great strain falls on the muscles at the back 

 of the fore-arm in straightening the fetlock, by which 

 action the fore-hand is raised. It is evident that the 

 heavy cart-horse should have a powerful fore-arm. 



Knee. — Looking at the knee in profile, while the horse 

 bears weight on the leg, we should find that the cannon- 

 bone and radius are nearly in a straight line. In reality 

 they are not quite so in perfect specimens ; but are 

 united by a slightly undulating line of great beauty, 

 the contour of which I am unable to lay down with 

 mathematical accuracy. Figs. 304, 308, 342, 351, 369, 

 427 and 431 furnish us with good illustrations of well- 

 set-on fore-arms, knees, and cannon-bones. Figs. 352 

 and 353 are examples of the condition known as " calf- 

 knees," to which there is a slight tendency in Fig. 360. 

 The opposite formation (" being over at the knees ") is 

 shown in Figs. 354 and 311, and to a lesser extent in 

 Fig- 355- This condition is generally due to hard work ; 

 but may be congenital ; for I have seen it in young 

 and sound animals which had not been broken in, and 

 which had consequently done no work, beyond volun- 

 tary exercise in their paddock. Fig. 355 represents the 

 fore legs of a sound four-year-old hunter which had 

 done very little work, and whose pasterns were more 

 sloping than usual. As a great rule, when a horse 

 stands over at the knees from work (Fig. 311), he as- 

 sumes this position with the object of allowing his 

 pasterns to become abnormally upright, so as to relieve 

 painful structures from pressure, in which case, these 

 structures will naturally be those that support (prevent 



