252 THE HORSE-KivEPER S GUIDE. 



Width of haunch and well spread thighs are character- 

 istic of the well-bred horse, and give security against cut 

 ting as it progresses. 



The iiocks are most important and complex joints 

 upon wliose proper formation are essentially connected the 

 excellence and value of the animal. They should be large 

 lean bony joints, broad and flat as you stand by the side, for 

 their breadth is dependant upon the length of an important 

 lever /^the os calcls), which corresponds with the heel in 

 man, into whose points are inserted the most powerful of 

 the muscles used in bendino- the leg. In draufjht horses, it 

 is comparatively short and upright, and consequently their 

 rtiide is limited; but in speedy horses it is long, which has 

 the effect of bending the leg to the proper position under 

 the bodv. 



PosiTiOxN OF THE HLVD LEGS. Viewed from behind, 

 tlie thigh should bo well spread, descending to the ground 

 perpendicularly without any inclination inward or outward, 

 either of the hock or pasterns; the weight and strain will 

 be then equally borne by the various parts. 



The proper position of the hind foot of a hackney is, 

 when the horse is standing with them both equal or opposite 

 each other, about three or four inches behind a line railing 

 from the stifle joint. If the legs are behind this point, he is 

 said to " have his legs behind him." On the fixture and 

 position of the hind leg depends his speed ; the nearer he 

 can place his hind legs under his body to the centre of gravi- 

 ty in the gallop, the greater will be his power and celerity, 

 and that power depends on the formation of his hock, for 

 in proportion to the length and power of his hnck will be 

 his spring. 



Colours axd markings. By many persons, the good 

 or bad qualities of horses are supposed to be connected 

 with particular colours, that their temperaments and apti- 

 tude for exertion are traceable to the colour of the skin. 

 Tliat some colours are not so prevalent among well-bred 

 horses, and that other colours are more common among 

 horses of no breeding at all, is apparent to every observer; 

 but I am disposed to consider they have been so bred, be- 

 cause tlieir price is very often influenced by what happens 

 to be a fashionable colour, and that predisposition to disease 

 or aptitude for work depends more on breeding and form 

 than on colour. 



