LEGS
.—The legs of a horse are, in their length, shape, and construction, so material to graceful and expeditious action, that they become, at the time of purchase, objects of minute inspection: if observed too long, in proportion to the DEPTH of the CHEST, and the LENGTH of the CARCASE, they may be considered a tolerable criterion of constitutional weakness, as few of this description are found equal to a constant repetition of even moderate work. Too straight in the lower part of the leg, with the hoof overhung by the fetlock, is an indication of stiffness and constraint in action; as, on the contrary, those who are exceeding long in the lower joints, and whose pasterns extend the hoof considerably before the leg, with a palpable bend or flexibility in walking, and the heel nearly down to the ground, are mostly horses of speed, (so far as their strength will permit;) but they are in general weak in those parts, and there is always a well-founded fear of their breaking down. The legs and feet are constantly liable to injuries, accidents, and defects, as CRACKS, SPLENTS, THRUSHES, &c. all which are explained under their different heads.