THE KNEE. 19 



even while the hinder bone is of good size, are yet 

 small below the knee, but equally small at the fet- 

 lock ; this is no imperfection, but merely renders such 

 horses a little slight, and in this sense is not very 

 good for the turf, and a great objection to weight 

 certainly ; but one that is small below the knee, or if 

 not very small, yet gradually inclining broader to- 

 wards the fetlock, is not only most unsightly tied in, 

 but is one of the worst faults a racer, or any horse 

 can have ; for when the back sinews are thus tied in, 

 the legs are very liable to become crooked, and fail 

 in hard work ; besides which, this last description of 

 tying in is, like the small eye, a strong sign of mon- 

 grel breeding. A horse that is slight, slight as before 

 described, all the way down, and short between the 

 knee and fetlock, will be quite as strong as one that 

 is broader below the knee, yet longer between the 

 knee and fetlock ; but great breadth immediately be- 

 low the knee, in addition to shortness between the 

 knee and fetlock, is needed to make this part perfect 

 for a racer. An English groom of some experience 

 that I knew, used to say, " Always be mindful of 

 the scientific maxim : when purchasing or betting, if 

 you feel a doubt, and have an option between two 

 horses, always decide in favour of that one with the 

 largest three essential bones ; the hinder bone of the 

 knee, the elbow bone, and the bone at the point of 

 the hock." 



The shank, when viewed in front, must look fine, 

 and of small circumference. There is no surer sign 

 of hard work than the shank, when viewed in front, 

 looking round and large. A curb or spavin may 

 come by a strain, but the roundness of shank I here 



