The management and treatment of the horse in the stable, field, and ...

In the Stable, Field, and on the Road. 249
piece with their hind-feet. See that the horse throws
out its feet freely and lightly, stand in front of it when it
is trotted, and notice if it has an inward gait of action
if so, it is sure to strike one leg against the other and be
liable to fall, and will be a subject for throwing splints.
Ii the horse has an inward gait of going, chalk the inside
of its hoof and then trot it ; if the chalk marks are on
its fetlock it will be a brusher, but if on the knee joint
it is a speedy-cutter, which is the worst form of cutting,
as the horse is apt to knock one leg from under it with
the other, the result being a severe fall and broken knees
to the horse, and perhaps a broken neck to the rider or
driver. After the horse has been examined in front,
stand behind it whilst being walked and trotted, and you
will then be able to detect the least uneasiness in its
going, and ascertain if it is a loose goer. Some horses
have an outward gait of going, and look as if they tried
to throw away their feet at every step; this kind of
action is objectionable, as a horse with such an action
soon tires on a journey. Horses with a short confined
step can never have good action, and are always dis-
agreeable to ride. In walking, the knee should be
moderately bent, but only sufficiently so to enable the
horse to walk clear of the stones and other objects he
may meet with on the road, and when the foot is set
down the foot should fall flat, so that the toe does not
strike the ground first. The legs should be thrown
straight out, bearing neither to the right or left, nor
should the sole be seen by a person standing on either
side. In the larger-sized horses the step should be
lengthy and regular, in the smaller-sized smart and