Year: 1872

hh' hhN' NfAVtAt ~ haA NV w tiNt'ss
Il is exposed to frequent and violent con-
cussions, and therefore requires great
breadth of surface for the purpose Of af-
fording sufficient room for the Insertion of
such powerful tendons and ligaments as
are required about a joint composed of
eleven (sometimcs twelvc) different bones.
There is an arch or bridge directly nc.
hind the knee, through which some Of
the tendons belonging to the muscles of
the arm pass. If not placed at a proper
distance behind the end of the shank
bone the tendons will he tied in. Tia
is a great defect. The arch, which is COM
posed Of ligaments and bone called the
trapezium, requires to be strong and thick
TO afford attachment TO the muscles which
are connected with and terminate in it.
The tendons, after passing through the
arch, should run in a straight line TO the
back of the pasterns. The knee of the
horse corresponds to the wrist Of man.
The part included between the knee and
the hoof, including the pastern, is called
the leg. 1t is composed entirely of bones,
skin, tendon and ligamcnt. There are
no muscle attached to it, consequently it
acts merely as lever for the support and
propulsion of the machine. The leg
should be thin, when viewed in front, as
that will show fineness and fatness of
bone; but its sides must be broad, other
wise the sinews which belong to the mus
cles of the arms would act at a great dis
advantage. Immediately below thcshank
bone or cannon, on the head Of which
rest the bones Of the knee, is situated the
pastern, commonly called the fetlock;
but, properly speaking, the fetlock is only
the posterior part Of the joint of the pas
tern from which grows the fetlOck, or
tuit of hair, When the pastern is very
short and upright the limb Is deprived 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
small resistafses or slight sh,ek TO n,iS,t1
= esrwafu Dey0nd INC pcrpe5Scular, in
which case the weight Of the machine,
uniting with the impetus, bring 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,
hoses with long pasterns are easily gated.


THE FEET


Are next TO be considered. They are
more liable 10 be found too small than
too large. A good foot should exhibit a
proper line of obliquity. When the
horn is very upright, however wdc and
open the heels, such feet soon become de-
fective. This is seldom attended TO, but
no rule admits of fewer exceptions than
that such a foot soon becomes faulty.
There should 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 ne
cessity, be weak, and tenderness in going
must be the consequence. The heels
must be wide and the frog healthy, firm,
pliable and elastic; when the heels arc
"wired" and "drawn in," and the whole
circumference of the hoof, perhaps, en-
circled with rings or ridges, reject such a
horse, for he cannot long remain sound.
The sole should present u concave sur.
face. If very fiat or cenvex it indicates
weakness and liability to become lame.


THE BODY OK cARcAs


Ought 10 be full in the quarters, round
in the hips and belly and nearly straight
in the back. The back is a very impor-
tant part, and much depends on its for
nation. 1t should be nearly straight,
round above and short between the shoul-
ders and kidneys. The loins should also
occupy attention. For the purpose Of
strength they can hardly be too broad.


The strength Of the loins depends on
the length Of the transverse processes Of
the lumber vertebrn, which should be
long, that there may be an extensive sur
face for the attachment Of the muscles Of
the back. The muscles should also be
powerful on each side. A union Of mus
cular power and a compactness Of form
is here beneficial Shortness Of the loins
confers strength. If the ribs be contin-
ued backwards TO within a short distance
of the pelvis, leaving but small inter
mediate space between them and the hips,
the horse Is said, in stable language, to
be "well-ribbed home" The setting Of
the tail is very characteristic Of the bree-
ding of the horse. and all those having
any pretension to blood have it displayed
in the graceful manner in which the tail
is attached to the body. In well bred
horses the Group rises more evidently
from the pelyis, or more correctly, frun
the sserum, and the tail appears TO start

less abruptly from the frame. rendering
il more graceful in appearance.


TINE HIND QUARTERS.


There Is less elasticity in the upper
portion Of the pelyis than in that Of the
thoraeic or fore eXtremiiies. The reason
Is obvious this property would here bc
far less useful to the animal. and tend
sl.o b. diminish the eject o. Muscular