582 THE EXTERIOR OF THE HORSE. 



good service, but his action is ungraceful and diminishes, in part, the 

 firmness of the members. 



C. — Defects Dependent upon the Mode of Association in 

 raising the Anterior Feet and resting the Posterior. 



Forging. — We sometimes observe horses which, in the walk or 

 the trot, produce an abnormal sound, more or less loud and fre- 

 quently repeated, which has been compared to that of the hammer 

 upon the anvil. It is produced by striking the toe of the hind-foot 

 against the fore-foot of the same side, in consequence of the want of 

 harmony between the anterior elevations and the posterior contacts, 

 whether through too great a rapidity of the movements of the hind- 

 limbs or an exao-fferated slowness of those of the fore-limbs. It is 

 said, in ordinary language, that such horses forge. The points of 

 striking, varying according to the degree of advance of the hind-foot 

 in relation to the fore-foot, are marked on the shoe by the grooves or 

 scratches which exist upon its branches, at the heels or at the quarter. 



This fault of forging has serious inconveniences : first, its sound is 

 disagreeable and tiresome; besides, the horse may pull his shoe, throw 

 himself, break his knees, calk himself, contuse the heels, the phalanges, 

 the tendons, or, finally, injure himself somewhat seriously, and suffer 

 from diverse complications, such as overreaching and quitters. 



The causes of this defect it is important to recognize. They are 

 dependent upon the general state of the subject and the faults of con- 

 formation. 



The general causes result in most cases from weakness, fatigue, 

 excessive use, improper training, or some diseased state. Some of 

 these are persistent and irremediable ; others are only temporary, and 

 for this very reason, under the influence of good hygiene, nutritious 

 alimentation, judicious exercise, and proper attention, forging may 

 disappear. Young horses which are worked too early, full-grown 

 horses which are overdriven, finally, those which are not accustomed 

 to work at speed, may be corrected of this fault if they are placed in 

 proper conditions, while it is entirely different with those in which it 

 becomes a symptom of weakness consequent upon old age. 



The faults of conformation capable of producing forging are rather 

 numerous. We will cite the principal : 



1st. The volume and weight of the head. 



2d. The shortness of the neck, its muscular development, as well 

 as that of the shoulders. 



