198 THE FORE LIMB 



what are called sloping pasterns (Fig. 298), will have more 

 play in these joints than those that have upright pasterns. 

 On the other hand, their back tendons and suspensory- 

 ligaments will work at a greater mechanical disadvantage. 

 As the expressions '' oblique (or sloping) pasterns/' and 

 *' upright pasterns/' are more comparative than absolute, it is 

 impossible to define them with precision. Figs. 298 and 306 

 may be taken as good examples of these respective forms of 

 conformation. I need hardly say that pasterns which would 

 be far too upright for fast work on hard ground, might do 

 admirably on soft ground or for slow draught Although the 

 pasterns of the fore legs shown in Fig. 306, appear very 

 upright; they belonged to a horse that galloped in good 

 style, and jumped (Figs. 195 to 199) with great cleverness and 

 flippancy, on all kinds of ground. The abnormal upright- 

 ness of his pasterns when he was standing, in no way 

 prevented his fetlock and pastern joints from having free 

 play durmg movement. The obvious lesson here is that 

 shape should not be studied independently of action. We 

 may accept, as an axiom, the statement that the harder the 

 ground and the faster the work, the more sloping should 

 the pasterns be, in order to save the legs from the injurious 

 effects of concussion (p. 57). If the horse be required to 

 gallop over hard ground, the pasterns can hardly be too 

 oblique (supposing, of course, that this condition has not 

 been brought on by injury) ; provided always that the 

 pastern bones are strong. I may point to Fig. 298 as an 

 extreme case of sloping pasterns in an Arab horse that had 

 remarkably sound legs. I may mention that such instances 

 are in no way uncommon among the sons of the desert ; and 

 that, as a rule, the possessors of such pasterns are animals 

 which like to **hear their feet rattle." As a case in point, I 

 may instance Mr. Covey s famous Arab, Marquis, who won 

 all over India, at all weights and all distances (m his own 

 class, of course). After doing as much work as would break 

 down a dozen ordinary horses, his legs were as clean as when 

 he was foaled , although, even when walking, his fetlocks 



