XC1V INTRODUCTION. 



The cannon bone must be of sufficient strength, but its 

 thickness will vary with race, being greater in the breeds of 

 larger horses than the more delicate and higher bred, whose 

 bones are more dense than those of horses of inferior breeding. 

 When viewed from the side, the limb should appear compara- 

 tively broad in any kind of horses, indicating the size of the 

 sesamoid bones behind, and the sufficiency of space for the 

 tendons and ligaments connected with the pastern and foot. 



The pastern, formed of the upper and lower pastern bones, 

 should be more oblique and long in proportion as the animal 

 is destined for more rapid movements. In the race-horse 

 they are peculiarly long and oblique, affording a more yield- 

 ing spring to the animal when at speed. But a medium 

 length and inclination only is suited to the horse in which 

 strength is to be combined with ordinary powers of speed, 

 as in the saddle -horse and lighter carriage-horse. When the 

 parts are too short and upright, the animal becomes unsafe 

 for the saddle, and unsuited for the exercise of even common 

 speed ; and it is only in the horse employed in slow and 

 heavy labour that a short and upright pastern is an admis- 

 sible character. 



The hoof should be well formed, and of symmetrical size. 

 Its colour will depend upon that of the integument, but it is 

 better that it be dark in colour than light. 



On the suitable conformation of the shoulder and fore- 

 limbs depends the property of what is termed action, which 

 consists in a ready elevation and flexure of the fore extremi- 

 ties. This property is less regarded in the race-horse, in 

 which it is only required to the degree that the horse shall 

 have the power to clear the level surface over which his 

 powers of speed are exercised ; but in all the classes of horses 

 which undergo continued fatigue, and bear the burden of a 

 rider, good action is an essential property. 



In the hinder limbs, which are designed essentially for 

 progression, is the femur, which, for the reasons before 

 given, should be relatively long. The tibia or leg proper 



