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MANUAL OF MODERN FARRIERY. 
rumped. Many blood-horses have this characteristic. Avoid 
the purchase of one so formed, as they rarely have good 
action. Horses long in the quarter are seldom serviceable ; 
if a horse is required for field sports, always choose him 
short in the quarters, as this is a character possessed by all 
good leapers. The thighs must be muscular, and extending 
to the hock, from which to the hoof he should be clean, flat, 
and sinewy. The back part of the thigh ought to have a 
considerable bend, as a straight-legged animal seldom pos¬ 
sesses good action, although there are exceptions to this 
rule. Avoid those which are cat-hammed, that is, with 
their hocks nearly touching each other. See that the fore¬ 
legs are strong and muscular down to the knee, and other¬ 
wise formed as we have described the fore legs. Let the 
feet be nearly circular, gradually increasing as they descend 
towards the sole. Their inclination outwards should not be 
so great as that of the pastern; the chances are that feet 
which slope too much forwards are diseased, or liable to it; 
besides, this obliquity throws the animal too much on his 
heels, which produces tenderness of the part, and straining 
of the back sinew. 
The position of the legs and feet, or what may be termed 
their setting on, is a most important point. Viewing the 
horse in front, his legs should be as nearly straight as pos¬ 
sible, and his feet neither inclining to the right or left ; 
as feet turned outwards are very liable to cut and trip, and 
the action of the horse is seldom good or agreeable to the 
eye, having an outward stride, and loses ground thereby at 
every step. Horses with an inward inclination are said to 
be pin-toed , or pigeon-toed. These generally throw the foot 
outwards, exhibiting the sole of the foot while in action to 
those who are standing on one side of him. Such horses 
have usually a laboured action, which fatigues the animal. 
