THE FORE LIMB. 



The latter is always objectionable ; the former, only when the 

 body is too heavy for the legs, as in PI. 30. 



The knee should be broad in front for the attachment and 

 passage of the extensor tendons. 



With respect to knees being " well let down," see p. 237. 



Cannon. — Under this heading I shall include the cannon- 

 bone, back tendons, and suspensory ligaments. 



This bone should be of good substance, as in Frontispiece 

 and Pis. 35, 40, 43, and 55. It should feel hard to the touch 

 and free from any excess of soft tissue between it and the 

 skin, or from enlaro-ement from the effects of work or disease 

 — any one of which conditions would give it an appearance of 

 undue roundness. The back tendons, as I have just pointed 

 out, should be as nearly as possible parallel with the cannon- 

 bone. They should be straight, and hard as if they were 

 made of catgut ; and in well-bred horses with fine skins, the 

 division between the two tendons should be visible on close 

 inspection. Any deviation out of the straight line, or any 

 fulness or softness, will indicate the presence or previous 

 existence in them of injury or disease. If the leg be free 

 from an excess of hair, the suspensory ligament should stand 

 out in bold relief {sec PI. 42) between the cannon-bone and 

 back tendons, and it should feel as tense and hard as a fiddle- 

 string. If there be any difficulty in tracing its course with 

 the fingers, or if it feels soft or rounded, we may rest assured 

 that It has suffered from injury, which fact will probably 

 prevent it from standing much work. I may mention that 

 in "clean" legs iySce PI. 42), we should be able to trace the 

 course of the suspensory ligament for some distance on each 

 side, as it proceeds obliquely down the pastern. 



