FUNDAMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS 105 



the horse because of their direct correlation with efficient 

 power and speed development. 



Canons. — The canons should be short, strong, and broad, 

 and the tendons should be well set back. 



Fetlocks. — ^The fetlocks should be strong and well sup- 

 ported. Weak fetlock-joints in the hindfeet as well as in 

 the forefeet are very objectionable. 



Pasterns. — The pasterns should be long, sloping, and 

 strongly supported. 



Legs. — The hindlegs of a horse are of unusual significance 

 and should, therefore, be straight, strong, and well supported 

 throughout. A perpendicular line dropped from the point 

 of the buttock should divide the leg and the foot into two 

 equal parts. A perpendicular line dropped from the hip- 

 joint to the ground should divide the foot, meeting the 

 ground half-way between the heel and the toe. 



Tail. — ^The tail should be set high, well carried, and 

 should show quality by the character of the hair thereon. 



Determination of Age. — Since the use of the horse is depend- 

 ent on the amount and continuity of work performed and 

 not on the quality of an edible product, as in meat-producing 

 animals, which are influenced by age only under certain 

 specified conditions, it is important to know the fundamentals 

 of age determination. While in a general way the age of an 

 animal can be approximately determined by their general 

 appearance or condition, the teeth are the most reliable 

 indications for practical usage. In judging age by the teeth 

 it is very important to know the condition of the normal 

 mouth, as the teeth are at times seriously affected by the 

 soil on which animals graze or by the character and quantity 

 of feed received. Liberal feeding on hard or flinty feeds 

 may apparently hasten maturity, while light feeding on soft 

 feeds or pasturing may retard it. 



The teeth are also "bishoped" sometimes by unscrupulous 

 dealers to renew the appearance of the cups which gradually 

 disappear with age. This operation is performed by the use 

 of a hot iron which burns a cup in the center of the teeth, 

 thus making it appear that the natural cups are still present. 

 Up to the age of five years the order of appearance of the six 



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