ATTITUDES. 



451 



7f. 



defective, for such direction favors the influence of these forces instead 

 of resisting them. 



The muscles or the ligaments, according to the nature of the devi- 

 ation, are therefore required, in such cases, to supply the insufficiency 

 of the support given by the arrangement of the bones of the mem- 

 ber ; whence more fatigue and more chances of damaging the locomo- 

 tory apparatus. 



Let us recall, finally, that the prominence or the efFacement of the 

 angle of the fetlock leads to consequences of the same order, by throw- 

 ing upon the supporting tendons or the 

 bones a large portion of the weight of the 

 body, which, in the case of regular axes, 

 that is to say, of a proper opening of 

 the articular angle, these agents of dis- 

 persion should distribute almost equally 

 among themselves. We will say the same 

 of the excess or deficiency of the length 

 of the phalangal lever, so often accom- 

 panying long and low pasterns. The 

 details, which we have already given in 

 their proper place, allow us to dispense 

 \vith any further remarks here. 



Axes viewed in Front. In order 

 that the horse may be regular in the 

 axes of his anterior members, the direct- 

 ing axis of the latter must blend, as we 

 have seen, with the vertical line which 

 passes through each centre of anterior sus- 

 pension. But to judge of this it is not 

 sufficient to regard these members in 

 profile, for we would be unable to per- 

 ceive the outward or the inward devia- 

 tions of this axis which might readily 

 take place. Hence we should, by all 

 means, complete our examination by the 

 consideration of the animal upon his 

 anterior face. 



A single line suffices, in this position, 

 to show the regularity of the axis : 



A vertical line drawn down from the point of the shoulder should divide 

 the knee, the canon, the fetlock, and the foot into two equal parts (Fig. 154). 



FIG. 154. 



