192 THE FORE LIMB. 



view as much as is the fore arm, I cannot see how the fact of 

 its being so, would greatly help us. We know that forward 

 propulsion given by the fore limb must take place through 

 it ; but I cannot say exactly what is its best direction for 

 purposes of progression. We are aware that the different 

 paces of the horse require, in varying proportions, the direction 

 . of the propulsion to be both upward and forward ; but we 

 cannot tell what these proportions should be. It is evident 

 that the heavy cart-horse, which requires the aid of his fore 

 limbs to propel him forward, should not have an upright 

 humerus. It appears probable that the angle which the 

 shoulder-blade makes with the humerus, varies but little in 

 different horses ; in which case, the more oblique the 

 shoulder-blade, the more upright the humerus, and vice 

 versa. Consequently, by observing the slope of the shoulder, 

 we mipht estimate that of the humerus. 



Elbow* — The point of the elbow should be capable 

 of being drawn well away from the side. It will then have 

 plenty of freedom, and will not be tied down to the chest. 



Fore Arm. — This part in all horses should be muscular ; 

 as its muscles have to do all the work of the limb below the 

 elbow. On p. 138, I have alluded to its comparative length. 

 In Figs. 322, 324, 329, 332, 333, and 370, are shown well- 

 shaped fore arms; in Figs. 304, 305, and 310, mean ones. 

 Although a race-horse might have a somewhat light fore arm 

 without much detriment, it is imperative for the jumper to be 

 strong in this part ; for in leaping great strain falls on the 

 muscles at the back of the fore arm in straightening the 

 fetlock, by which action the fore hand is raised. It goes 

 almost without saying that the heavy cart-horse should have 

 a powerful fore arm. 



Castors or chesnuts, — On the fore arm, generally, but not 

 always, nearer the knee than the elbow, there is a horny 

 growth, called a castor, corn, or chesnut. It is generally flat, 

 and more or less in the form of an oval, the greater diameter 



