144 BEGINNINGS IN ANIMAL HUSBANDRY 



The flanks refer to the parts where the legs join with the 

 body. The front flank is just back of the arm, while the hind 

 flank is the high part of the side above and beyond the stifle. 

 A low, full flank goes with large body capacity and constitu- 

 tional vigor. Horses high in the flanks usually appear long 

 of leg. 



The hock is the large joint about half way down the hind 

 leg. This is a very important part, and should be wide in 

 front, deep through from front to rear, and should be lean 

 rather than fleshy. Large, heavy horses tend to have what 

 are known as thick, meaty hocks. There are small bones in 

 this joint, and they are most important in reducing the con- 

 cussion which comes from the severe use thrown on the hind 

 legs when in action. 



The general features of the cannon, fetlock joint, pastern, 

 and foot in the front legs are essentially the same as those 

 behind. However, the rear cannon bone is flatter and deeper 

 from front to rear, and usually shows somewhat more length. 

 The hind pasterns also are usually less sloping than those in 

 front. 



The position of the horse at rest should show the feet 

 squarely placed, and the legs as perpendicular as possible, as 

 indicated by the position of the cannon bones. Horses' 

 legs may take a variety of positions. Sometimes they toe 

 in, or perhaps toe out. In such cases the legs are not straight. 

 If the hocks nearly touch, then the hind feet usually point 

 out; while if there is considerable width between the hocks, 

 then the toes point in. A wide or bowed hock shows a 

 very weak conformation, worse than one that is too close. 

 Horsemen prefer the hocks to come close together rather 

 than to be spread wide apart, for the closer position gives a 

 better hock action. 



