1 14 EXAMINA TION OF HORSES 



up and back on the larger articular surface over 

 which it glides, and so exposes this latter surface, then 

 the apparent larger size is manifest, — indeed the front 

 of the hock is very largely made up of this large articular 

 surface. 



What is the lesson which all these considerations 

 teach us? Is it not this, that all hocks are of the same 

 size, or nearly so, relatively to the size of the animal, 

 and their difference is apparent only, and not real, in 

 more cases than at first sight appears ? That they differ 

 in size in relation to the horse is quite true, but not 

 nearly so much as do the feet. 



I hope by the above to have made it clear why 

 straight hocks are preferred to crooked ones by all 

 using horses except for cavalry purposes ; for these it 

 is needful that the hind legs be well under the belly, 

 that the movement, consisting of turning short round, 

 called "wheeling," be the more rapidly and easily 

 accomplished ; but for all other purposes that I know 

 (fast trotting perhaps excepted), the hocks cannot be 

 too straight, because, as has been shown, the straighter 

 they are the more advantageously are they placed, as has 

 been shown. 



The diseases of the hock are due to concussion and 

 sprain entirely if we except capped hock, and this is 

 just what we should expect. They are — 



1. Bone Spavin. 



2. Beg „ 



