196 THE FORE LIMB 



granted that, if the former be weak in structure, the latter, 

 as well as the tendons and ligaments, will also be wanting 

 in strength. Eastern horses, and those of Oriental blood, 

 are often very light below the knee , but they hardly ever 

 possess undue width of fetlock. A thoroughly sound rule, 

 which is borne out in practice as well as by theory, is to 

 judge (as regards this particular point) the wear-resisting 

 powers of a fore leg by the direction which the back 

 tendons make with the cannon-bone, and not by its 

 measurement below the knee, which is worthless, unless that 

 round the fetlock is also taken into consideration. It is 

 important to note the difference between a leg which is light 

 below the knee, and one which is tied-in below the knee. 

 The latter is always objectionable ; the former, only when 

 the body is too heavy for the fore legs, as in Fig. 308. 



The desirable condition of comparative shortness of 

 cannon-bone is, I think, more frequently %t^n in hunters, 

 than among other classes of horses. It is well shown in 

 Fig. 320. 



With respect to knees being '* well let down,*' see p. 212. 



The cannon-bone should be of good substance, as in 

 Frontispiece and Figs. 294, 298 and 328. It should feel 

 hard to the touch and free from any excess of soft tissue 

 between it and the skin, or from enlargement from the 

 effects of work or disease^ — any one of which conditions 

 would give it an appearance of undue loundness. The 

 back tendons, as I have just pointed out, should be as nearly 

 as possible parallel with the cannon-bone. They should 

 be straight, and hard as if they were made of catgut, 

 and in well-bred horses with fine skins, the division 

 between the two tendons should be visible on close 

 inspection. Any deviation out of the straight line, or any 

 fulness or softness, will indicate the presence or previous 

 existence in them of injury or disease. If the leg be free 

 from an excess of hair, the suspensory ligament should stand 

 out in bold relief (Fig. 292) between the cannon-bone and 

 back tendons, and should feel as tense and hard as a fiddle- 



