THE FORE-LEGS. 85 



ter of surprise that the celebrated " Nimrod " thought 

 it of comparatively Httle importance how the horse was 

 shod. He attributed nearly everything to the effects 

 of pace. No doubt, pace must always tell ; but there 

 is just as little doubt that the pace would not be 

 half so injm-ious as it is, if the horse were always as 

 well shod as he ought to be. 



Shoeing has been regarded by some as a necessai7 

 evil ; still I am certain it is an evil in the horse or in 

 the man only when it is improperly performed. I am 

 confident in both cases it would be advantageous, ra- 

 ther than the reverse, if the artisan could always be 

 made sufficiently acquainted with the theory of his 

 profession, and had hands, or rather a head, for its due 

 perfoimance. 



THE FOEE-LEGS. 



Having remarked thus much on the different parts of 

 the fore-legs, it now remains for me to say a few words 

 on then' position, as a whole. 



When viewed in front, the distance between the 

 fore-legs ought to be, as near as possible, the same 

 from the chest to the gi'ound. This is the form which 

 is most consistent with neat, straight, and speedy 

 action. 



On taking a side view, we should observe the per- 

 pendicular du-ection of the leg. When it is directed 



