MISCELLANY. 163 



digested. If the water is given last it will carry 

 the grain into the intestines before it is digested. 

 In either case the grain will decompose and may 

 cause colic. At noon the horse should have water 

 and grain. At night water and grain, and then 

 two hours later, after the oats have been digested, 

 let him have all the hav he will clean up before 



The extensor tendons extend down over the out- 

 side or lateral surface of the front leg and wind 

 around to the front. There are no tendons on the 

 inside or medial side of the leg. The tendons are 

 placed on the outside to hold the leg straight, 

 otherwise a horse would be liable to knock his 

 knees. But the foot should be perfectly level. If 

 the outside of the hoof is the highest it takes off 

 the tension of these tendons (which can not 

 contract), and the result is the horse stands base 

 wide. Most knee-knockers are found to be high 

 on the outside of hoof. Particular attention 

 should be paid to the extensor tendons, as they 

 have considerable to do in establishing the gait. 

 When a horse is finishing tired at the end of a mile 

 he seems to lose control of the tendons and his legs 

 wind in. In such instances a common expression 

 is to say that "he finished with a thousand legs." 



Xow, the angle of the foot plays an important 

 part. The tendons are inelastic, so if the heel is 

 too high or too low lameness will often result. 

 One or two tendons mav be receiving the weight 



