Page:Horsemanship for Women.djvu/151

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BUYING A SADDLE-HORSE.
137

Belly.—This is one of the four parts which the Arab proverb says must be long.

Breast, or Bosom.—Should be deep, but not too broad, or speed will be diminished.

Cannon-bone (11).—The strong oval bone stretching between the knee and fetlock-joint in the fore-leg, and between the hock and fetlock-joint in the hind-leg.

Chin Groove.—The place just above the swell of the lower lip, in which the curb-chain should lie.

Coronet (14).—A cartilaginous band encircling the top of the hoof.

Crest.—The upper part of the back of the neck.

Croup (18).— Strictly speaking, the upper part of hind-quarters between hip and tail, but in a general way taken for that part of the body back of the saddle.

Curb-place (29).—A part of the hind-leg, six or eight inches below the point of the hock, where "curbs," or enlargement of the back sinew resulting from strain, are to be looked for.

Ear.—Neither too long nor very short.

Elbow (10).—Should not be nearly under the point of the shoulder, but considerably back of it, and should neither be turned out nor pressed against the ribs.

Eye.—Should be clear and full, and of a gentle expression.

Fetlock.—The tuft of hair at the back of the pastern-joint. When thick and coarse it indicates common blood.

Fetlock-joint (12).—Is between the shank and the pastern, and is the same as pastern-joint.

Flank (22).

Forearm (9).—Should be long and muscular.

Forehead.—The broader, the more sense and courage. The average of six thorough-bred English horses was nine and a half inches.

Frog.—The triangular piece in centre of bottom of hoof.

Gaskin, or Lower Thigh (23).—Should be strong and long, reaching well down. Measured from the stifle-joint to the point of hock should be twenty-eight inches in a well-bred horse of fifteen hands and three-quarters.