94 A TREATISE ON HORSE-BREEDING. 



The indications of a good leg are firmness, 

 hardness and smoothness to the touch, showing 

 an entire absence of adipose tissue; large, well- 

 defined joints, entirely free from abnormal ap- 

 pendages; firm, but elastic, cords; a short pas- 

 tern, short from knee and hock to pastern -joint. 

 The shape of the bone should be broad and flat, 

 and the legs should stand squarely and firmly 

 under the horse, the toes turning neither in nor 

 out. The bone should be of good size just be- 

 low the knee, and flat: and large-sized cannon- 

 bones, with strong, clean back sinews and sus- 

 pensory ligaments are of great importance. 

 "Curby hocks," "cow hocks." "bowed legs," 

 "calf knees," and "over on the knees" are indi- 

 cations that are always unfavorable^ 



All these points are to be examined mainly 

 when the horse is not in motion: and when 

 fully satisfied in these particulars it is very es- 

 sential to see that, having four good legs, the 

 horse has the ability to use them properly; that 

 he steps with a firm, free, elastic tread; that 

 the legs and feet do not get in the way of each 

 other when he is in motion, but move freely, 

 without interference, and yet without any pad- 

 dling or straddling motion. Stiffness of the 

 joints may be most readily detected by causing 

 the horse to step backward, and by seeing him 

 in motion when first taken from the stall, be- 

 fore he has been warmed up. 



