The Sporting Dictionary, and Rural Repository, Volume 1 (of 2) / Of General Information upon Every Subject Appertaining to the Sports of the Field

by William Taplin

FORE-LEGS

.—The fore-legs of a horse begin at the lower extremity of the SHOULDER-BLADE before, and the ELBOW behind: they consist of what are termed the ARMS, (or fore thighs,) which extend to each KNEE; the shank-bone from the knee to the FETLOCK JOINT; the fetlock-bone is continued from thence to the CORONARY-BONE, into which it is inserted; the coronary-bone in part fills the cavity, or box of the hoof, being lodged in the COFFIN-BONE, supported by the nut-bone behind; these last are deposited in the membranous mass denominated the INNER SOLE; the whole being terminated by the bottom of the hoof, the frog, and the outer sole. The FORE-LEGS, to be uniform, (in a front view,) should be wide at the upper part next the breast, strong and broad in the ARM, bony below the KNEE, free from SPLENTS, a broad sound HOOF, firm SOLE, and a FROG without thrushes.