STANDING AT EASE. 79 



behind her ; the difference being merely one of position or atti- 

 tude. With reference to this subject, I need hardly say that 

 a horse may assume many attitudes, but he has only one 

 kind of conformation. On the other hand, however, we must 

 not ignore the fact that if a horse is unable to bend the joints 

 (the hocks, fetlocks and pastern joints are the ones which are 

 usually affected) of his hind limbs properly, he will naturally 

 refrain from bringing his hind feet forward, when standing or 

 moving to the front, as freely as he would do were his hind 

 limbs in good working order. In judging of this, we should 

 form our opinion more from the action of the animal during 

 movement, than from the position he takes up when 

 standing ; although both should of course be considered. 



Standing at Ease. — The sound horse will, almost 

 always, when standing at ease, have both fore feet equally 

 advanced, and with his weight chiefly on them ; for he can 

 obtain this support in front, without muscular effort on his part 

 (to which fact I shall presently again refer), and consequently 

 without fatigue. His head will be lowered, and will be sup- 

 ported by the suspensory ligament of the neck, the action of 

 which is also accomplished without fatigue {see p. -^-^^ As the 

 hind limbs are unprovided with an apparatus by which they 

 can bear weight without fatigue, their muscles have to obey 

 the law which requires, for the health of muscular tissue, alter- 

 nate periods of rest and work. Hence, one hind limb is rested 

 by its joints being bent and its heel raised, while its fellow 

 supports the weight of the hind quarters. When the work- 

 ing limb becomes tired, the other one takes its turn of w^ork ; 

 and so on. 



The fore limbs of the horse are furnished with special 



