THE external conformation of the horse. 565 
striking the lower surface of the body during extreme flexion of 
the joint, the foot being wound in an outward direction as it as¬ 
cends from the ground. The circular motion of the foot is some¬ 
times called dishing , possibly because it occasionally gives one 
the impression that the ground is being scooped out or dished by it. 
borne horses exhibit the dishing movement much more percep¬ 
tibly than others do, which indicates that the screw-like motion 
m the hock joint of some horses is greater than it is in others; 
then, if we are to regard the screw form of leverage as being 
the most perfect because it is the strongest, why other things 
being equal, the horse that dishes most will be the best per¬ 
former, it does not matter whether it be under saddle, in the 
road wagon or at the plough. 
Many years ago a gentleman once said to me that in the part 
of the old country where he came from they often used the 
expression, “a good disher means a good jumper.” Our experi¬ 
ence with horses rather verifies the truth of this expression, not 
only that they are good jumpers but good performers in a 
general way. 
The shank (Plate I, 17) is the part below the hock and 
above the fetlock; it corresponds to the canon of the front leg. 
proportionately speaking it is a little longer, flatter and measures 
more in circumference. In shape it should be flat and deep from 
before backwards, the skin lying close to the bone and tendon_ 
hard, flat legs being the ones which are best able to stand the 
tiying work of the day. Those round, soft legs we so often 
meet with frequently prove a source of continual annoyance on 
account of being affected with grease or some other similar 
disease. 
The parts below the shank are so much like the same parts 
in the front leg that they do not require any special description 
except to repeat that the foot is usually smaller and more con¬ 
tracted, with the sole more concave and the frog a little less 
developed. 
Color . It has been said from time immemorial that “a good 
horse cannot be a bad color,” but we beg to take exception to 
