BRITISH TURF. 129 



tion of the thigh-bone the better, so as to admit 

 of the back part, or projecting point of the hock 

 appearing some distance out bej^ond the top of the 

 hind quarters. Tliose parts being thus formed, ad- 

 mit of a very considerable lever for the main ten- 

 don here to act upon the tendon Achilles ; which 

 like the flexor one of the leg, can scarcely be too 

 large or too distinctly seen, in its commencement 

 from the lower part of the quarter to its insertion 

 into the posterior or projecting point of the hock, 

 the OS ocilsis. The hock should be broad and wide, 

 with a clean, lean appearance, and those parts 

 which are occasionally the seat of thorough pins 

 and log spavins, in a sound well formed hock, 

 should appear more as cavities, than as having the 

 above mentioned projections, and which are some- 

 times the cause of lameness. The hind leg. like the 

 fore one, should be short, broad, flat, and straight ; 

 the trifling angle formed by the hock, should toge- 

 ther with the moderate obliquity of the pastern, 

 bring the extremity of the toe nearly under the 

 stifle-joint." 



When we consider the situation and action of 

 the hock, the weight and stress thrown upon it 

 must be exceedingly great, and we find ac- 

 cordingly that it is frequently injured in rapid 

 and powerful motion. It is true that some provi- 

 sion to prevent injury is provided, in the groved 



VOL. I. K 



