CONFORMATION OF THE HORSE. 15 



they often begin to go over at the knees ; in other 

 words, become " knee-sprung." The knees should 

 be broad ; big, and square in all proportions, free 

 from the shghtest degree of stiffness; and freely 

 flexed during action ; in other words, the animal 

 must have good knee action. 



The Shank, or the Cannon. 



No matter whatever the breed of horse, judges 

 always give a good deal of attention to this part. 

 What are termed " clean " legs, are those in 

 which the cannons are covered by thin skin, and 

 there is little beyond bone, and tendon, felt 

 when this region is manipulated. Width ; breadth ; 

 thickness ; and proportionate length, constitute 

 essentials of beauty in this region. In Clydesdales, 

 Shires, and most cart horses, the cannon at the back, 

 and sides, is heavily feathered, and the hair should 

 be long and silky. Suffolk horses are particularly 

 good, as a rule, in this portion of the anatomy. 

 At the junction of the cannon and knee, the bone 

 should be broad. If it is narrow, the animal is 

 said to be " tied in below the knee " — a defect. 

 A large percentage of horses are not clean about 

 their legs, the skin being thick, with too much useless 

 material beneath it. This usually indicates a slug- 



