POINTS OF THE HORSE. 23 



tliere is a hollow just behind the top of the blade, even if this is 

 slanting enough, you must expect the saddle to slip forward, and 

 should, in all doubtful cases, be careful to put one on before con- 

 eluding a purchase. The point of the shoulder should be well 

 developed, but not showing any rough protuberances, which are 

 equally objectionable with a flat or ill-developed point. The length 

 of the true arm is mainly dependent upon that of the blade ; but 

 sometimes, when this is oblique enough, the true arm is short and 

 upright, and the elbow stands under, or only a little behind, the 

 shoulder point. This is a very faulty conformation, and is seldom 

 attended with good action. The chief defect in the elbow is seen 

 when it turns inwards, and rubs so closely against the ribs that the 

 finger can hardly be insinuated between them and it. Here the 

 elbow is said to be tied or confined, and the horse is very apt to 

 turn his toes out; while the opposite formation is indicated by 

 turned-in, or " pigeon" toes, and turned-out elbows, frequently 

 accompanying long-standing rheumatism of the shoulders. It 

 does sometimes happen, however, that the toes are turned in or 

 out without affecting the elbow, but this is an exception to the 

 rule. A long and muscular fore-arm is a sure accompaniment of 

 strong and sweeping action, and should be carefully prized; in 

 other respects there is little to be noted here. Next comes the 

 knee, which should be broad, and when looked at from the front 

 should be much wider than the limb above and below. It should 

 taper off" backwards to a comparatively thin edge, and should have 

 a good development of the pisiform bone, which projects back- 

 wards at its upper part. The leg, immediately below the knee, 

 should be as large as any other part, and not " tied in" there, 

 which indicates a weakness of this part. A bending of the knee 

 backwards is called a " calf-knee," and is not objected to in cart- 

 horses, in which it is by no means uncommon; but it is very apt 

 to lead to strains of this joint in the racehorse or hunter. A knee 

 naturally bending somewhat forward is much preferred by good 

 judges, though, when it is the result of over-work, it is almost 

 equally to be avoided with the calf-knee. Flat, and at the same 

 time large, cannon-bones, without gumminess, are of great import- 

 ance, and if attended with a full-sized suspensory ligament, and 

 with strong, clean, and free back sinews, the leg is to be considered 

 faultless. The fetlock-joint should be of good size and clean, 

 whilst the pasterns should form an angle with the ground, of be- 

 tween forty-five and sixty degrees. Lastly, the foot should be well 

 formed ; but the construction of this part being hereafter more 

 fully described, I shall omit its consideration here. 



In the Middlepiece the withers come first under notice. It 

 is usual to desire them high and thin, but they are ver}^ commonly 

 too much developed, and if the bony processes stand up like the 

 edge of a razor, without muscle on them, they are to be regarded 



