HORSESHOEING. 



65 



divides the leg from the elbow to the fetlock into anterior and 

 posterior halves of equal width, and touches the gi-ound imme- 

 diately back of the bulbs of the heel. A perpendicular line 



Fig. 50. 



Fig. 51. 



Fig. 52. 



Camped in front. 



Acute-angled foot (low-jointed) . 



dropped from the point of union of the middle and lower thirds 

 of the scapula (shoulder blade) will cut the humerus into 

 halves, and meet the ground between the toe and the heel.* 



* In station of rest, the normal position of a fore-leg, as seen from 

 the side, is somewhat different. The station of rest is the position that 

 is maintained with the least possible muscular effort. With gradual 

 muscular I'elaxation the head and neck sink to a point somewhat below 

 the line of the back, the top of the shoulder blade sinks a little, and 

 the shoulder and elbow joints move foi-ward till the centre of the 

 elbow joint is directly above the ground-surface of the hoof. There- 

 fore, when a horse at rest stands firmly on all four feet, the fore-leg 

 \"iewed from the side, has a normal (regular) direction, when a per~ 

 •pendicular line dropped from the tuberosity of the acromian spine 

 passes through the middle of the elbow joint and meets the ground 

 near the middle of the hoof, 

 5 



