The Red Cloud chief., 1881-09-08
Interfering, Over. Reaching, Stun.
bling. Etc.

These un~accountab,e and Objectiona-
bic i~mper.ections seem not well under
stood by authors or horsemen. Great
efforts have been made To remedy these
evils by shoe;ng. etc. Much difference
OF opinion still exists IS to the proper
method of shooting, in consequence Of
none beirg effectual. IL these urnat-
ural movements are a serious damage
To the horse, we should. b; this time,
be able to know 10 what extent they
are or can be rcmediei. We should in
duire for the cause, whether il be 4 hab-
it, carelessness or deformity. Through
a long series of observations and uni
form conclusions, | would submit the
following: The cause of most of these
unnatural movements may be account
ed for i'm the anatomical structure or
proportions of the horse affected. The
horse that is the most perfect, natural
and easy mover. has the most perfect
anatomical structure. When extraor-
binary, sudden. fast or slow movements
are manifest. it depends partly on ana
tOmical proportions. Where the spinal
column is too short for the length of his
legs, the horse over-reaches in proper
llOu. Ii toO Hot1, tuC hlIu iCSt Adit
proportionally short of the others IL
the metatarsal bone be too short for
the tibia. he is n high stopper; il the
reverse, he drags. the toe trips the
ground. or stumbles behind. IL the
femur be too concaye on the inside he
carries his legs close, or inter.ercs; If
straight he stradd'es, or travels wide;
if too long. he stands with his hind feet
too much under the body; if too short.
the reverse. II all the bones of the
hind legs are proper. some OF those
proportions NAV be lost or wanting for
ward. 1.-THE humerus be short. he cannot
reach forward; if long. he throws too
much forward. IL the radius be too
short for the m~e.acarpal, he trips and
stumb!es: if too long. he steps highland
throws. II the pastern be too short. the
foot has but little play: is too long, his
foot is said 10 Top. IL the radius con-
cave. he interferes; il convex. he throws
the foot outward. IL the pubs and fe-
muir are short. and the humerus Is
long. it makes the horse look gaunt,
long on the belly. and looks taller and
lighter than he is. When the reverse
is apparent you see = long back. with
the low and heavy appearance. Where
the shafts of the dorsal ve-tebrse pro-
jet long or high. he shows ashort back
and sunken cervical vertebre, conse-
Quently low neck and head. Where
the launches hang straight. If raises
the caudril ~yertebr1. and be is said TO
carry 3 high tail, but ii too slanting. a
low tail IS the result Ii the scapuia is
too long. the sternum looks sunken; If
too short, he looks full breasted. II
the pasal bones be long, the uostrils are
small; if snort large. II the frontal
bone is concave he appears narrow be-
tween the eyes; il convex. wide. No
machinery works well. unless attach
ments Are perfect; If too loose. ii jars:
back-lash causes friction. and conflicts
with steady and easy motion; If too
taut, it runs hard and strains on all
parts This is equally true OF the horse
II his anatomical attachments are too
taue he labors hard in travelling. drzgx
trips, steps short stsmb,es. andmzy In
t~erfere; II too loose. he jars. trots high
and hard. drAKs the foot. throws out
ward reaches long. the foot falls loose
and heavy; il Is raised with = DRAG. and
.remulous while suspended. and often
over-reaches and inierfercS-W Fierce.
v *. is Aieki9sn RoyRsr.