St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-01-25
THE HORSES LEGS.
Points That Every Horseman Is
Not Familiar With.

In the case of q healthy horse, the
fore leg always comes to the ground in
an extended shape, all its bones, with
the exception of those at the pattern
joints, abutting on one another in very
nearly straight line, from the point of
the shoulder to the extremity of the leg,
so that, being manlfestly incapable of
further extension, it must be concluded,
on the principle laid down, that it is
equally incapable of eXerting OF propell-
sng energy. and consequently that the
only purpose it can serve is that of sus-
tanning the weight of the Incumbent
fore quarter during the successive adj
.Slnces of the hind legs. Add to this
shat the bOny structure of the fore leg is
.Ained to the rest of the frame by mere
muscular attachments, calculated not
to communicate impulse, but to break
conclusion, and we will come to the
conclusion that the propeling power of
the horse does not reside in the fore
legs.
The hind legs. however, instead of
being merely united by a flexible and
elastic muscular attachment with the
rest of the frame, are exerted into the
extremity OF the spinal column by con-
Meeting bones of large dimensions and
emlnently calculated, from their direc-
ton, to impart impulse 20 the whole
figure. The limb is brought to the
ground with all It's parts in a high state
of contraction, the shank bone forming
an angle with the upper leg bone at the
hook. the upper leg bone forming an
angle with the thigh bone at the stifie
Joint, and the thigh bone forming an
which abuts directly on the lumber
vertebr9, and is the immediate
agent in conveying the impuIsive
force of the hind leg to that center of
the system. Here, then, we have a
series of no less than three angles, not
to speak of the elastic apparatus of the
paStern, in the successive openings out
of which, by contraction of the limb at
every stride. all the muscular energy of
the hind quarters is called into play.
and thus, the foot forming the point of
resistance, the body of the animal, at
every stretch of the hind legs, is shot
forward with velocity proportioned to
the amount OF muscular action eXerted
In that process of extension.
The extent of the muscular action is.
OF course, governed by the natural con-
formation Of the Individual animal. 1t
being proved that the fore legs are
merely pillars to sustain weight, and to
receive and support the center of gray
lty, which is alternately advancing and
receding with the motion of the animal.
we must look to the more or less acute
angles at which the levers of the hind
quarters are inclined toward each other
for the extent of contraction OF which
they are capable. Hence the prac-
teal eye ranges over the entire
symmetry, from the point of the haunch
to the articulation pastern. estimating
the amount and the character of power
the horse is capable of exercising The
high haunch bone and lengthy thigh
bone will characterize the speed of the
racer: the acute angle of the thigh bone
with the upper leg bone will denote the
agile power that conferS trotting action.
while the requisite for slow draft will
be the reverse of both, demanding not
so much rapid and successive contrac-
ton as strong muscular efforts to move
shorter levers.