30 'the Compleat Horfeman : cr y 



them infinitely more eafie than thofe without 

 them. 



This Imperfection of bending too much the Pa- 

 ftern-joint, fhould be as carefully taken notice of in 

 the Hind- Legs as in the Fore : And there are alfo 

 fome Horfes which bend too much only in the 

 Hind- Patterns, and not in thofe before, which is a 

 token that they have a very weak Hind- Quarter, 

 and is a great Imperfection, whatever kind of Ser- 

 vice they may be defigned for : And if they have 

 Wind- galls, they are more dangerous behind than 

 if they were before. Neither will they be proper 

 for the Coach, becaufe they will not endure pulling 

 back, or flaying the Coach upon any defcent. 



Obferve therefore narrowly, that the Pattern* 

 joints be neither too ftiff nor too fmall, nor upon 

 the contrary too plying and flexible. For the know- 

 ledge of all I have faid concerning a Horfe being 

 ftrait upon his Members, depends abfolutely upon 

 the exacl: obfervation of the Pattern- Joints. 



Thofe Horfes which are fhort-legg'd, or fhort- 

 jointed, are fubjedt to become ftrait upon their 

 Members, efpecially. if, in Shooing, their Heels are 

 left too high. Care therefore mutt be taken to keep 

 the Heels of fuch Horfes very low, by frequent pa* 

 ring them. 



Taftern Crowned. 



The Pattern- joint is alfo fometimes Crowned, as 

 we fay, that is, when without being galled or hurt* 

 there is a Swelling goes round it beneath the Skin, 

 in form of a Circle, and about half the breadth of 

 one's Finger. It proceeds from a Humour gathered 

 there through much Travel, and fhews that the 

 Horfe's Legs have been too much ufed. 



1 (hall only add, that Horfes which have thick, 

 ftirF, and fhort joints, that is no ways plying or 

 flexible, are unfit for the Manager: For glib and 

 flexible Joints, if they be not too long, are one of 



the 



