Il AGRICULTURAL HORSES 45 
The back part, from the knee, should possess a nice 
flowing fringe of silken hair which should spring from 
the very edge of the bone” (C. S. B. xlii.). The 
quality of the hair is indicative of the quality of the 
bone and of the horse. Apart from this, I am 
inclined to think that the value of hair on the leg is 
due to fashion and not to utility. 
The Sinews, as in all horses, should be hard, 
easily handled, and stand well out from the bone. 
The Pastern should not be too upright or too 
short, but should harmonise with the slant of the 
shoulder. The short upright pastern is well enough 
for the farm, but will not mitigate the concussion 
which attends the action of a horse on hard roads 
and paved streets. 
The Foot is generally good and well shaped ; but 
side-bone and ring-bone should be always looked for, 
as the Clydesdale is, if less liable than some other 
draught breeds to this class of disease, not free from it. 
The Back.—A common defect has been undue 
length in the back. Slabby, low-backed animals 
should be avoided. 
The Ribs are too often flat. 
The Chest should be low, broad, and full. 
Hind Paris.—Broad, low-set hind-quarters, with 
muscular thighs, “ descending into broad and propor- 
tionately-developed hocks, sum up the hind end of 
the Clydesdale” (C. S. B. xliv.). 
“From the hock to the ground the leg should be 
short, broad, flat, clean, evenly and straight or slightly 
curved forward, the sinews standing out from the bone 
and having a similar fringe of hair to that on the fore- 
leg, and rising as high as the bottom of the hock joint.” 
