THE HORSE. 141 



Turning. 



Turning, that is, sudden and improper turning or 

 twisting round, is a dangerous and troublesome habit ; 

 when it is not caused by disease, it is a VICE. 



But if, upon examination of the eyes of the horse, 

 you find them to be diseased or injured, you must then 

 treat him, not as vicious, but as UNSOUND. 



Stiff Hocks. 



Some horses are naturally stiffer and less elastic than 

 others in the movements of the hocks. It is only by 

 the stiffness of these propellers cceteris paribus that 

 a horse is prevented from being the fastest of his 

 kind. 



There are, therefore, relative degrees of perfection 

 of horses in this respect ; so that, where the degree 

 of elasticity is insufficient for one species of work, it 

 may yet be suited to work of another kind, so long as 

 such comparative stiffness does not inconvenience the 

 horse ; and the buyer has every opportunity for ascer- 

 taining whether the " paces " of his proposed purchase 

 are suitable for the labour required. 



Stiff or naturally slow hocks do not .prevent the horse 

 from being declared SOUND. 



Where, however, as in the articles " Spavin " and 



