6o EXAMINATION OF HORSES AS TO SOUNDNESS 



The PTeat metatarsal or cannon bone, which is 

 the bone placed between the hock and fetlock, 

 and which has a small metatarsal bone on either 

 side of it at the posterior part, as in the fore- 

 limb, should be perfectly straight, and incline 

 slightly obliquely forward. 



The Body. — The body should stand over a 

 good deal of ground, and be long and low. For 

 speed length is very necessary, whilst for staying 

 power and endurance generally we look to 

 breadth. 



In casting the eye over the body, note should 

 be taken of the size of the sheath, as horses with 

 a large sheath are usually good ones, whilst the 

 reverse is most frequently the case when the 

 sheath is small. 



The Tail. — The tail should be well and firmly 

 set on the body, and be carried away from the 

 quarters. In well-bred horses the hair of the 

 tail is usually fine and silky, whilst in the under- 

 bred horse it is coarse and inclined to be curly, 

 and, as a rule, clings to the quarters in a manner 

 that is anything but ornamental. 



