Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-04-18

d;sedvanfaoe. Immediately below the
~shsrk bone or cannon, on the head of
vhich rest the bones of the knee, is sit
mated the pastern, commonly called the
ietIock; but, properly speaking, the fet-
lock is only the posterior part of the joint
OF the pastern. from which grows the fet-
lock, or uft of hair. When the pastern
is very short and upright, the limb is de-
prived Of much of its elasticity, and horses
thus built prove uneasy movers. They
are also unsafe, for the pastern being so
nearly in an upright position requires but
q small resistance or slight shock to bring
it forward beyond the perpendicular, in
which case the weight of the machine,
uniting with the impetus, brings the ami
NAL down. When, on the contrary, the
pasterns are too long, they are frequently
too oblique likewise, and must then be
also proportionally weak; nevertheless,
horses with long pasterns are easy gated.
THE FEET
are next to be considered They are
more liable to be found too small than
too large. A good foot should exhibit
proper line of obliquity. When the horn
is very upright however wide and open
the heels, such feet soon become defec-
tive. This is seldom attended to, but no
rule admits of fewer exceptions than that
such foot soon becomes faulty. There
should also be a proper height of horn.
When there is too much, it becomes weak
and disposes to contract; when too little,
the heels, quarters and soles must of
necessity be weak, and tenderness in
going must be the consequence. The
heels must be wide aud the frog healthy,
Epx,, Mi nd MI Ia. vhav ho
heels are !" wired and +" drawn in, q" and
the whole circumference of the hoof. per-
haps, encircled with rings or ridges,
reject such horse, for he cannot long re-
main sound. The sole should present a
concave surface. IT very fiat or convex
it indicates weakness and liability to be-
come lame.
THE BODY OR CARCASS
ought to be full in the quarters, round in
the hips and belly, and nearly straight in
the back. The back is a very important
part, and much depends on its formation
1t should be nealry straight, round above
and short between the shoulders and thu
kidneys. The loins should also occup,
attention. For the purpose Of strength
they can hardly be too broad. III
strength OF the loins depends on tn
length Of the transverse processes of tn
lumbar vertebr,e, which should be long
that there may be an extensive surface TO
the attachment of the muscles of the back
The muscles should also be powerful OF
each side A union of muscular powe
and c0mpactness of form is here benefi
cial. Shortness Of the loins confer
strength. Ii the ribs be continued back
wards to within q short distance of thu
bones of the pelvis, leaving but a small
intermediate space between them and the
hips, the horse is said, in stable language
to be swell ribbed home" The setting
on of the tail is very characteristic Of The
breeding of the horse, and all those having
any pretensions to blood have it displayed
in the graceful manner in which the tail i
attached to the body. In well bred horse
the Group rises more evidently from tn
pelvis, or more correctly, from the sac
abruptly from the frame, rendering
more graceful in appearance.
M THE HIND QUARTERS.
There is less elasticity in the upper pot
ton OF the pelvis than in that of the tho
racic or fore extremities. The reason
obvious this property would be far lei
useful to the animal, and tend also to d
minish the effect of muscular contractilitl
Elasticity breaks the active force Of nlu
cular contraction by interposing spring
and all the power which is demanded
overcome the effect of that spring is e.
propulsion of the animal is concerned
Therefore it is that nature, in order
give greater efficiency to the muscles {
this portion of the body, has attached tn
hind extremities to the frame by diret
bony articulation, which is not the cas-
with the front limbs.
The function of the thoracic extremitie;
as.has already been stated. is to supper
and direct, while that Of the hinder limb
is to propel the frame These simple fact
explain in a few words the principle
which should direct us in judging Of til
capabilities of the animal machine. Wit
regard 70 the comparative strength of tn
upper and lower parts of the extremity, j
will be found that as the length above tn
hook is increased, that below it is dimin
ished. This is the case. also, in the for
limb above and below the knee. If W
have short quarters or shoulders, it TO
lows that the column Of the support mus
be elongated somewhere, which is the
done below the hook and knee. But if tn
animal is formed with deep foreman
and long quarters, the cannon bones ar
PropoEtionaily ulHilHiSueu III ionStuue
This Ia one reason Of the advantage usual
ly observed to follow the possession of
short cannon. SO generally and properl,
esteemed. $50 a -
THE HAuNCH, THIGH AND sTIFLE.
The haunch is composed of three irreg
ular bones on each side. which, coalesc
ing, form an arch for the support of tn
pesterior parts of the body, and the pro
lection of the pelvic viscera. These tire
bones become partially consolidated int
one, and form ut their point of union Gu
for the reception of the head of the uppe
or true thigh bone. aenominated by horse
men the whirl or round bone. Their un
ion forms ball and socket joint which i
covered with large masses Of muscle
thereby rendering it imperceptibe to out
ward view. The prominences of tn