CHOOSING A MOUNT 91 



flat knees are indicative of strength, 

 and they should have considerably more 

 width than the forearms or the shanks. 



Below the knees and to the fetlocks 

 the legs should be rather short, flat, 

 deep, and fine, no swelling to prevent 

 one from feeling distinctly, especially 

 near the fetlocks, the tendons and liga- 

 ments quite separate from the shanks 

 or cannons and the splint-bones. The 

 fetlock-joints much developed give evi- 

 dence of overwork, therefore any un- 

 due prominence is not desirable. Long, 

 slanting pasterns give elasticity to a 

 horse's gait and prevent disagreeable 

 concussion; but if the length is exces- 

 sive, there will be too much strain on 

 the back tendons. The fetlocks reach 

 to the coronet, below which are the feet, 

 which must be of good shape and abso- 

 lutely sound. 



The thorax must be either broad or 



