THE ARMY HORSE. 11 



A slightly arched loin is essential to the power of carrying 

 weight ; a much arched or "roach back" is almost sure to give 

 uneasy action from its want of elasticity. The hips should be 

 broad, smooth, and muscular. 



The quarter (thigh and buttock) and gaskin should be broad. 

 The muscles of the two quarters should come close together, 

 leaving no hollow below the anus; the widely separated con- 

 formation is an indication of a want of constitution. 



The hock should be of good size, but clean and flat, and with 

 a good clean point standing clear of the joint. The two hocks 

 should stand well apart, but not enough to give the horse the 

 appearance of being "bow-legged." "Cow-hocked," so called, 

 is when the hocks stand close together and the hind feet wide 

 apart, with the toes turned out. 



The cannon should be short, not tied in below the hock, and 

 the line from the point of the hock to the back part of the 

 fetlock should be straight. 



The fetlock Avhen bent forward is an indication of weakness 

 known as "cocked ankle." The hind fetlocks, pasterns, and 

 feet should correspond to those of the fore extremity, but the 

 pasterns are usualh' more upright. 



The croup should slope slightly downward and be of moder- 

 ate length; the dock large and muscular; the tail carried 

 firmly and well away from the quarters. 



DEFECTS AND BLEMISHES. 



Defects and blemishes are those results of injuries (more or 

 less severe) which show on the outside of the body. They are 

 regarded as external diseases, and mav be classed as follov.s : 



1. Diseases of bones. 



2. Diseases of synovial membranes. 



3. Diseases of muscles, tendons, ligaments, and skin. 



4. Diseases of the foot. 



1. Diseases of hones. 



Bone spavin. — Location : Lower and inner part of the hock 

 joint. 



Splints. — Location: Usually appearing on the inner side of 

 the upper third of the front cannon: occasionally found on the 

 outer side of the upper third of the hind cannon. 



