131 THE HORSE 



his hammering off two shoes in one race . . . and such shoes 

 as he wears ! They began with thirty-two ounce shoes in 

 front and eight-ounce shoes behind. Does any one ask why 

 they put such an enormous weight on his forefeet ? It is be- 

 cause such weight is requisite to keep him level and perfectly 

 balanced, otherwise he would break, would not hold to the 

 trot, would gallop or trot unsteadily." The result of this 

 conformation of the fore-legs and the mechanical means 

 adopted to modify a faulty construction was only what 

 might be expected. Though the winner of a notable race at 

 the Cleveland Meeting in 1876, and able to trot below 2.16 

 when everything went right, it was more often that things 

 went wrong, and he was distanced in consequence. Nor 

 was he able to stand the constant training requisite to keep 

 him in balance, and he therefore was early withdrawn to the 

 stud from the trotting-track. 



To measure the length of the forearm it is usual to take 

 a line from the top of the elbow to the notch in the middle 

 of the knee, though this really includes the upper series of 

 carpal bones also. It is, however, a convenient point to 

 measure to. From this latter to the centre of the ankle- 

 joint will give the length of the cannon-bone. 



In considering the framework of the trotter, the hind-legs 

 are necessarily one of the first points to be considered, for 

 they are the chief propelling power, and on their leverage 

 and length must depend the distance of each stride and the 

 rapidity of its repetition. A low hock and a short hind 

 cannon are as important as a long forearm and a short fore 

 cannon, for thereby the length from hip to hock is increased, 

 enabling the horse to cover more ground at each stroke 

 than if the hock was situated higher, with consequently a 

 shorter line from the hip. It is necessary also that the thigh 

 should be lengthy from the stifle to the hock ; and fully as 

 important is the muscular development of this region. 

 Muscles owe their chief force to length, and without long 

 bones there cannot be long muscles. The chief ones 

 concerned in the retraction of the leg are the glutaei, 

 situated in the region of the hip ; while those that straighten 

 the leg and propel the horse forward are the triceps and 



