HORSES: THEIR POINTS AND MANAGEMENT 



the area thus bounded. This joint has a restraining hgament, 

 thus preventing the lateral or "cow kick," though some horses 

 have a knack of giving su.ch " stxlish " kicks. 



The Stifle. — A joint that corresponds to the knee in man 

 is formed by the union of three bones ^hgaments, etc.", ^iz., the 

 lower end of the thigh bone ^the lirst thigh}, the patella or knee 

 cap, and the upper end of the tibia., or second thigh bone. 



The knee cap can easily be telt ^and seen^ riding up and 

 down as the horse progresses. It is frequently displaced 

 ;^luxated\ constituting shpped knee cap — a troublesome injury. 



The Second ThiCxH extends from the stilie to the hock, 

 and the Gaskix comprises the narrow portion of the second 

 thigh, extending from above the points of the hocks, and 

 includes the tendon of Achilles, felt as a thick cord-hke tendon 

 extending from the points of the hocks. This is the so-called 

 ham string, the division of which has been practised in warfare, 

 to disable the horses of cavalrymen. 



The Hocks. — Each heck has a front face, and behind a 

 prominence — the point of the hock or heel. This jouit is 

 formed bv the lower end of the tibia secord thieh bone^, 

 the bones of the hock, and the upper end of the cannon 

 bone and splint bones. 



Freedom of hock action is even more important than beautv 

 of knee movement, but is seldom paid sufficient attention to 

 by purchasers of horses. During movement a horse should get 

 his hocks well imder him. 



50 



