THE TYPES AND CLASSES OF HORSES 103 



by the latter kind of conformation. ' ' Horsemen generally 

 favor a short cannon on the hind leg as bearing evidence 

 of having greater relative strength than a long one, and 

 as a medium for bringing the weight of body closer to the 

 foot surface. Goubaux and Barriere ^^ regard the short 

 cannon as less heavy, swinging more freely, unfolding it- 

 self more, ' ' and not necessitating the same elevation of the 

 member above the ground to reach the limit of its move- 

 ments." It is important to note that the hind cannon of 

 the draft horse is relatively shorter, usually, than that on 

 the light class of horse. The position of the cannons should 

 be straight, at least fairly so. French authorities empha- 

 size the desirability of the hind cannons being perpendicu- 

 lar, but Hayes states that he has never seen a horse with 

 vertical cannons. The horse as a rule carries his hind legs 

 so that at best the cannons slope slightly forward, rather 

 than have a perpendicular position. The judge will hardly 

 be justified in discriminating against a cannon that has a 

 slight slope forward, if of a uniform and desirable width 

 throughout and free of blemishes. 



The hind fetlock, as in the case of the front one, should 

 be wide, straight and strong. Sometimes this joint projects 

 forward to an unnatural degree, due to the bones in pastern 

 and fetlock growing somewhat out of position thus produc- 

 ing knuckling or a "cocked" ankle. Horses with rather 

 upright pasterns are most subject to this trouble. 



The hind pastern of the draft horse usually closely 

 resembles those of the front legs, the same characteristics 

 being desired in each case. However, the hind pastern as 

 a rule, is less oblique than the one in front. A slope of from 

 45 to 50 degrees is desirable, for reasons already given on 

 page 83. 



The hind feet of the horse are somewhat smaller than 

 the front ones, and not so round. This is almost universally 

 so. The hind foot also shows more slope of the hoof, and 

 also arch of sole, than does the front hoof. A round hoof 



2« The Exterior of the Horse, 2d ed., 1904, p. 285. 



