THE FORE-LEGS. 87 



ably safe and secure to ride, although his toes were 

 turned in. But in his case the elbows were perfectly 

 straight, and the turning-in at the toe was owing en- 

 tirely to the peculiar setting-on of the foot, which made 

 all the difference. I do not recollect of any instance 

 of a fast and safe horse with his elbows turned out. 



The knees should never be laid back, although many 

 people seem to be of a contrary opinion. They imagine 

 their backward position is a point of great perfection. 

 They will frequently tell you such a horse cannot go 

 down, because he is so well back on the knees. In 

 this they are certainly mistaken. By this formation, 

 the back muscles and sinews of the leg are all inter- 

 fered with, and materially curtailed in their action. 

 Besides, the position of the knee has very little to do 

 in preventing a horse from falling. If it were other- 

 wise, what on earth would become of the horses which 

 have their knees bent completely foi-wards like a bow ? 

 If the opposite shape were necessary to stability, horses 

 of this description need not take the trouble of rising, 

 as they would be no sooner up than down again. Still 

 further, is it not a very singular thing that these 

 doomed animals are seldom seen with a broken knee ? 

 The leg, on a side view, should be quite straight from 

 the shoulder to the pastern. But if in any instance 

 the knee is to diverge from the straight line, let it 

 always be forwards — never backwards. Some of the 

 fastest, safest, and best horses that ever appeared on 



