CHAPTER VII. 

 BENT KNEES INTERFEBENCE. AND SPEEDY CUT. 



r I^HE knee of a horse is a most complicated 

 -*- and beautiful mechanical arrangement, 

 singularly exempt from strain or disease in 

 any form. Bony enlargement, inflammation 

 of the ligaments, do not attack it. The rav- 

 age of the shoeing-smith the horse's direst 

 enemy seems to be exhausted upon the feet 

 and the sympathetic pasterns ; the concussion 

 of iron and pavement, uncushioned by the 

 frog, will destroy the lower system of joints 

 before the knee can be shaken. 



Notwithstanding this perfection and 

 Strength, many horses bend the knee, and 

 Stand, or travel with it bent, until the flexor 

 muscles shrink from lack of use. This " over 

 in the knees " condition is invariably caused 

 by imperfect use of the feet. The effect of 

 heel-calks and their accompaniment of corns, 

 making a sore in each heel, is often indicated 

 by the horse to his regardless owner by bend- 



