92 THE STUD. 



CROOKED FORE LEGS, OR STANDING OVER AT 

 THE KXEE. 



This may be termed a deformity, for, though it 

 mostly arises from work, it is the natural form- 

 ation of some few horses. 



Supposing even that it arises from the effect of 

 work, it has nothing whatever to do with un- 

 soundness. Such horses are just as sound as if 

 their legs stood in a proper position ; that is, so 

 far as their mere departure from straightness 

 goes. In fact it is quite common to see such 

 legs particularly clean in their sinews, and most 

 determinately sound : nor does it at all follow 

 that such legs have undergone any unusual degree 

 of labour ; in fact, the state of a horse's legs in 

 any way is at best but a very fallacious way of 

 judging of the quantum of work he has under- 

 gone ; but it is a very sure criterion of the effect 

 work has had on him, be it more or less. The 

 consequence or effect (not the quantum) of work 

 a horse has done is the important point. 



IMany persons run away with, or are carried 

 away by, strange notions and fears respecting 

 horses having done a good deal of work. In the 

 hope of inducing them to think more justly in 

 this matter, I will suppose a mail-coach to set out 

 with a set of wheels new, or newly tired ; and 

 we will say that, from some cause or other, the 



