POINTS FOR THE REJECTION OF HORSES.

Southern Cross, Volume 2, Issue 12, 23 June 1894, Page 11

POINTS FOR THE REJECTION OF HORSES.

The English Government has the following set of rules for those who select horses for cavalry service. They are called “ Points of Rejection,” but will answer equally well as points lor selection ;

Reject a horse whose forelegs are not straight; it will not stand wear. Stand behind the horse as it walks from you, and you will be able to notice these defects if they exist. Reject a horse that is light below the knee; the conformation is essentially weak; or a horse with a long, or short, or upright pastern* ; long pasterns are subject to sprains; short or upright pasterns make a horse unpleasant to ride, and, on account of extra concussions, are apt to cause ossific deposits ; or a horse with toes turned in or out. The twist usually occurs at the fetlock. JJ Toes turned out are more objectionable than toes turned in. When toes turn out the fetlocks are generally turned in, and animals so formed are very apt to cut or brush. Both, however, are weak formations. Reject a horse whose hindlegs are too far behind; good propelling power will be wanting, and disease as a result may be expected in the hocks. And a horse which goes either very wide or very close behind, and one with very straight or very bent hocks; the former cause undue concussion, the latter are apt to give way. Reject a horse that is “split up ” that is, shows much daylight between the thighs; propelling power comes from behind, and must be deficient in horses without due muscular development between the thighs. Reject a horse with fiat or overly large feet, or with very small feet; medium sized are the best; also, a horse with one foot smaller than the other.