592 



DISEASES OF THE HOKSE 



By the direction of the imaginary line passing through tlie long 

 axes of the two pasterns (figs. 2, 4, 5) we determine wliether or not 

 the hoof and pasterns stand in proper mutual relation. 



In the regiilar standing position (fig. 2) the foot-axis runs straight 

 downward and forward; in the base-wide position (fig. 3) it runs 

 obliquel}'^ downward and outward, and in the base-narrow position 

 (fig. 4) it runs obliquelj' downAvard and inward. 



Viewing the foot in profile, we distinguish the regular position 

 (fig. 5&) and designate all forward deviations as acute-angled (long 

 toe and low heel, fig. 5a) , and all deviations backward froni the regu- 

 lar (steep toe and high heel, fig. 6c) as steep-toed, or stumpy. When 



the body weight is evenly 

 distributed oyer all four 

 limbs, the foot-axis should 

 be straight; the long pas- 

 tern, short pa<?tern, and 

 wall at the toe should have 

 the same slant. 



A front hoof of the reg- 

 ular standing position. — 

 The outer wall is a little 

 more slanting and some- 

 Avhat thicker than the inner. The lower boi'der of the outer quarter 

 describes the arc of a smaller circle — that is, is more sharply bent 

 than the inner quarter. The weight falls near the center of the foot 

 and is evenly distributed over the whole bottom of the hoof. The 

 toe forms an angle with the ground of 45° to 50° and is parallel to 



Fig. 4.— Pair of fore feet of base-narrow form in loc-narrow 

 standing position. 



Fig. 5. — a. Side view of an acutoangled £uie foot (shod) ; It, isido view of a regular fore foot, 

 Bliowlng tile most desirable desvee of obliquity (34°) ; c. side view of a Rtumpy, or " up- 

 right," fore foot; obliquity above 50°. In a, b, c, note particularly the relation between 

 the length of the shoe and the overhanging of the heels. Note also the toe roll of the 



HboeS. 



the direction of the long pastern. The toe points straight ahead, and 

 when the horse is moving forward in a straight line the hoofs are 

 picked up and carried forward in a line parallel to the middle line 

 of the body, and are set down flat. Coming straight toward the 

 observer the hoofs seem to rise and fall perpendicularly. 



