THE SHIRE OR CART HORSE. 25 



many cart horses have very defective action in 

 front. When the feet are crossed over each other 

 during movement, it predisposes to bruising of 

 the coronet — an injury always followed by severe 

 lameness. 



The writer does not advise the purchase of a 

 horse having limbs of this conformation. 



Instead of the toes being turned " inwards," 

 they may be turned " outwards," which is equally 

 objectionable. The same remark applies to the 

 position of the feet of the hind limbs. 



The position of the limbs in relation to the body 

 demands some attention. For instance, the fore 

 limbs may be placed too far backwards^ thus in- 

 creasing the weight of the fore-hand upon them, 

 or they may be placed too much in front, diminishing 

 their share in weight-bearing. 



The chest should be of great capacity, its depth 

 being measured by an oblique line drawn from 

 below the withers to the inner side of the fore-arm, 

 and its transverse diameter is that between one side 

 of the chest wall and the other ; i.e., from ribs 

 to ribs. All cart horses must, in the language of 

 a horseman, be " well-hearted," or, in other words, 

 have abundant room for the free play of heart 

 and lungs. The back and the loins should be 



