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is styled by the dealers "Knuckling"), it generally indicates that the 

 horse has done a good deal of work, and if this is attended with a 

 tremulous, tottering motion of the leg, the idea is confirmed, and 

 though in a young horse it may be relieved by rest and blistering, he 

 will never be able to do regular work. 



To judge the height of a horse, let him stand on the level, and 

 not as usually shown, with the fore-legs on rising ground ; a differ- 

 ence of an inch or two is important both as regards his strength and 

 his re-sale. 



A man who is even a tolerable horseman would do well to 

 choose a high-couraged (not a bad-tempered or vicious) horse, but 

 one that is ready to go ; such an animal will do more work, and 

 do it much more pleasantly than one that is heavy and sluggish. 



If the inspection is satisfactory so far, let the legs and 

 feet be examined, and here a study of Plates IV. and V. will 

 be of great use. Let the purchaser stand in front of the horse, and 

 note the position and size of the hoofs when at rest ; if the feet are 

 very small, or one seems smaller than the other, there is good ground 

 to suspect some serious defect. If there be no difference in the size 

 of the feet, if the heels are not much contracted, if the frogs be 

 sound, and there be no trace of matter oozing from the cleft, and if 

 the horse puts his feet down boldly and firmly when trotted down-hill 

 on rough ground, these points may be considered satisfactory, and 

 the sole, or bottom of the foot, is next to be examined. In its 

 natural state it is rather hollow or concave, but occasionally we find 

 it flat, and sometimes convex. In either case it is proportionably 

 thin, and less fit for the performance of its office than if it was con- 

 cave. The convex form of sole is, however, a much more serious 

 defect than the flat. A convex, or projecting sole, is extremely thin 

 and, therefore, incapable of bearing much pressure ; and though a 

 horse may step firmly with this kind of sole, he is constantly liable 

 to lameness from gravel getting under his shoe, and it frequently 

 happens that the front or wall of the hoof has lost its natural form, 

 and becomes flatter, thinner, and more brittle, so that it is difficult to 

 nail a shoe securely without wounding or pricking the foot. This 



