KNOWLEDGE OF THE STABLE 195 



road, and if alone she would be obliged 

 to take it out, or run the risk of serious- 

 ly laming him. While a woman is play- 

 ing with him is an excellent opportuni- 

 ty for her to look at her horse's feet, 

 which should be taken up in the fol- 

 lowing manner. 



She must stand on his near side, a 

 trifle back of his fore-legs, and facing his 

 hind ones. She should run her left hand 

 from his knee to his fetlock, behind, and 

 inside of his near fore-leg, grasping just 

 below his fetlock, with the ringers on 

 the coronet and the thumb above on 

 the pastern. A horse which has been 

 broken will yield his foot, bending his 

 knee at once, but sometimes with such 

 force that she must keep her head held 

 up, so that there be no chance of contact 

 with his heel. With the right hand she 

 can examine his foot, after which she 

 may pass to his off fore-foot, and then 

 to the near hind-leg. 



