64 THE HORSE. 



ble constitutions? What reason is there, then, for 

 wishing to see a fine shank-bone in the man, and a 

 thick one in the horse ? On what principle conld we 

 argue for the difference ? I confess I never could see 

 the advantage of having the body of this bone large 

 in the horse ; and there are not many, I imagine, who 

 would admire the human leg, with the thick end of it 

 next the ground. 



I must, however, guard against being misunderstood 

 upon this point. I -vviU always protest against having 

 the body of the shank-bone too thick; but I must, 

 nevertheless, have a broad leg and a large joint. The 

 shaft of the bone ought to be flat and compact ; but 

 its ends require to be gi'catly expanded, for the pur- 

 pose of affording plenty of space for the attachment 

 of those ligaments which secure the joint, as well as 

 to give an advantageous position to the sinews which 

 terminate about, or nm over it. 



Speaking of the shank, Nimrod says, " I require a 

 large gi-asp of flat, ropey sinews, not caring so much 

 about the main size of the bone as the material of the 

 adjoining parts." — Sporting Magazine^ New Series, 

 vol. xxiii. p. 129. With this opinion I entirely 

 coincide. The leg should be thin, when viewed in 

 front, as that will show fineness and flatness of bone ; 

 but its side must be broad, otherwise the sinews which 

 belong to the muscles of the aim would act at a great 

 disadvantage. These sinews ought to be thrown far 



