THE COMPLETE FARRIER. 9 



and not spongy and rotten ; the Frogs horny and dry ; and the Soles 

 somewhat hollow, like the inside of a dish or bowl. Such feet will 

 never disappoint your expectations, and such only should be chosen. 



Particular regard should be had to the Shoulders ; they should not 

 be too much loaded, for a horse with heavy shoulders can never move 

 well ; and on the other hand, one that has very thin shoulders, and a 

 narrow chest, though he may move briskly so long as he is sound, yet 

 he is generally weak, and easily lamed in the shoulders ; a medium 

 should therefore be chosen. 



Be careful to observe the creature's Motions, — that the shoulders, 

 knees, and pasterns all act together, and have but one spring of motion, 

 for in that case alone can they be said to move well. 



The Limbs ' should be free from *Splents and ^Windgalls. The 

 Knees should be straight, and not bending, or what is called a calf's 

 knee : the Back-sinews strong and well braced : the Pastern Joints 

 clean, and free from swellings of all kinds ; and the Hocks lean and 

 dry, and free from | Spavins, \\Corbs and Flatulent Tumo9s. 



The Body, or Carcass, should neither be too small nor too large. 

 The Back should be straight, or have only a moderate sinking below 

 the Withers: for when the back of a horse is low, or higher behind 

 than before, it is both very ugly and a sign of weakness. The back 

 should also be of a proper length. The Ribs should be large, the 

 Fla?iks smooth and full, and the Hind-parts, or uppermost Haunches, 

 not higher than the shoulders. When the horse trots before you, ob- 

 serve if his haunches cover his fore-knees. A horse with a short 

 hind-quarter does not look well. 



The next thing to be regarded in a horse is his Wind, which may 

 be easily judged of by the motion of his flanks. A broken-winded 

 horse always pinches in his flanks, with a very slow motion, and 

 drops them suddenly, which may be easily perceived. Many horses 

 breathe thick that are not broken-winded ; indeed, any horse will in 

 foggy weather, or if foul fed, without sufficient exercise ; but if a 

 horse has been in good keeping, and had proper exercise, and yet has 

 these symptoms, there is some defect, either natural or accidental ; 

 such as a narrow chest, or some cold that has affected the lungs. 



There are other particulars that should be observed in choosing a 

 horse. If his Head be large and fleshy, and his Neck thick and gross, 

 he will always go heavy on the hand, and therefore such should never 

 be chosen. A horse that has his Hocks very wide, seldom moves well, 

 and one that has them too near will chafe and cut his legs by crossing 

 them. Fleshy-legged horses are generally subject to the Grease, and 

 other infirmities of that kind, and therefore should not be chosen. 

 The Temper of a horse should be particularly attended to ; because 



* There are four kinds of Splents, viz: The Bone Splent, the Blood Splent, the 

 Osselet. and the Horn Splent. 



§ Windfalls are soft Tumors, seated on either side of the Fetlock Joint. 



t There are two kinds of Spavins, viz: The Blood Spavin, which lies in the 

 joint of the hind leg. something like a Wind-gall, going quite, through the joint, 

 and is then called a Thorough Fin: and the Bone Spavin, which lies just below 

 the joint, on the inside, and is called by dealers a Dry Knot, or Jack. 



|| A Corb lies on the back side of the' hind leg, near the lower part of the joint. 



