Parti, PerfeSi Farrier, 33 



CHAP. XL 



How to know when a Horfe is right planted on 

 his Limbs y and if he walks or treads welL 



BEfore you fee him walk, obferve him as he is 

 ftanding in the Stable *, becaule upon the right 

 or wrong Camming of a Horfe, his good or bad go- 

 ing in a great meafure depends. He fhould Hand 

 equally upon his Legs, and not one advanced before 

 the other. If he advances one of his Hind-legs, let- 

 ting the Toe only to touch the Ground, it is no bad 

 ilgn •, But if he advances one of his Fore-legs, and 

 only point it to the Ground, it would be a fign that 

 he is pained in that Leg. There be fome Horfes; 

 as there are Men, who can never plant themfelves 

 right upon their Legs \ and I have feen fcveral Hor- 

 fes advance one of their Fore-legs more than the 

 other, who had neverthelefs their Legs good, and 

 never made a falfe Step. His Legs fhould be wider 

 above than below ; that is, the diftance between his 

 Feet fhould be lefs than between his Fore-thighs; 

 at that part next to the Shoulders. The Knees fhould 

 not be too clofe, but the whole Leg fhould defcend 

 in a ftrait Line to the very Paftern-joint, and the 

 Feet fhould be turned neither out nor in. 



As for the Hind-hand, his Jarrets or Hammes 

 fhould not be too clofe. The Inftep which is betwixt 

 the Hock and Paftern-joint, fhould ftand perpendi- 

 cular to the Ground : If it ftand forward under his; 

 Belly, the fituation of it is bad •, or if he turn the 

 Toes of his Hind-feet much outward, efpecially if 

 deligned for the Coach, becaufe for want of ftrength 

 in his Haunches, he cannot fo well keep back upon 

 any conflderable defcent. Therefore put him back 

 with your Hand j and if in going back, the Toes 



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