790 
F. C. GRENSIDE. 
with this desirable quality is undoubtedly referable to the 
nervous system, just as speed is. 
We cannot determine the degree of a horse’s speed by study¬ 
ing his external form. We have to subject him to a test, and 
so we have in forming a conclusion as to the degre of lightness 
or heaviness of his step. With regard to labored progression 
the tendency to it is usually determinable by an inspection of a 
horse’s conformation. All deviations from the steadily carried 
top in the trot, in which there is no rolling, jerking or wad¬ 
dling, and from the straight flexion and extension of the fore¬ 
legs, in which there is no straddling, dishing, or winding-in, 
and to the equally straight and easy flexion of the hocks, can as 
a rule be determined by an examination of an individual’s con¬ 
formation. 
The horse with thick or loaded shoulders and wide chest is 
apt to roll ; the one that stands with the fore feet placed wide 
apart straddles; the knock-kneed one, as well as the one that 
toes in, generally dishes ; while the horse that toes out winds in. 
With the hind legs the cow-hocked horse usually slings his 
legs in a circumductive manner outwards. The horse vyith his 
hocks wide apart and feet close together, screws his hocks out¬ 
wards, and usually plaits. 
When the hocks are placed behind instead of under the quar¬ 
ters there is likely to be a dragging movement of the hind 
legs. 
Defective conformation of the legs then shows itself with 
almost unvarying regularity in its effects upon the action. 
In order to have the straight undeviating action, a horse 
must flex and extend his legs during progression in a line par¬ 
allel to the long axis of the body. The knock-kneed, bow- 
legged, or even calf-kneed horse cannot do this, and conse¬ 
quently experiences the ill results of a loss of time and power 
in progression. Apart altogether from the question of the de¬ 
gree of the lightness or heaviness of the step, the manner in 
which the feet are placed on the ground has a very great influ¬ 
ence in determining “ wear and tear,” and is consequently an 
