238 



THE HORSE 



FIG. 51. Cow hocked. 



he stands with one front foot at ease, that is, pointed 

 to the front, he is unsound somewhere in his front 

 limbs or shoulders, or in both. 

 Sound horses invariably stand with 

 their front feet in such positions 

 that the weight will be borne 

 equally, or nearly so, on both feet. 

 Not so with the hind limbs; for 

 a horse often stands with nearly 

 all his posterior weight thrown on 

 one leg while resting the other, 

 and, while he may be unsound, 

 such habit is usually not proof of 

 it. A horse may be sound and yet 

 be so awkwardly put together as to 

 greatly reduce value and price. 

 The purchaser, after having ex- 

 amined the horse in the stable, 

 should have him led out quietly 

 into an open space. Here the 

 eyes should be critically exam- 

 ined. If the sunlight is bright, 

 the hat may be held above the 

 eye to cut off the dazzling rays 

 of the sun while the eye is being 

 observed. It is usual to wave 

 the hand in front of the eye as 

 an additional test; but the rapid 

 movement of air in front of the FlG - 52 - A pointer. 

 hand may cause even a blind horse to wink. A better 

 method is to approach the eye with the hand, in a nearly 



