118 THE HORSE. 



backwards, at this part, the better, and the less liable 

 >vill the animal be to curbs and spavins. Llanercost 

 was particularly beautiful in this point. There was 

 plenty of room for the attachment of ligaments, and the 

 hock had a broad, finn basis to rest upon. 



It is a sign of bad feeding, constitutional weakness, 

 or a strong disposition to local disease, when the quan- 

 tity of sinovial secretion in the hock-joint is super- 

 abundant. If anything can add to the beauty of a well- 

 foimed, large joint, it is that of its being clean, hard, 

 and free from tumefaction of every kind. 



THE SHANK. 



The shank-bone should be short, broad, and flat. This 

 arrangement will give strength, and, at the same time, 

 bring the hock near to the ground. The back-sinews 

 ought to stand well out from the bone. In a well- 

 formed leg, these sinews are plain and distinct, and feel 

 as hard as cords. I have already alluded to the pro- 

 per form of the upper end of the shank-bone, where it 

 joins the hock. The lower end requires to be strong 

 also, in order to form a strong connexion -wath the pas- 

 tern. Taken as a whole, from the hock to the heel, 

 the shank should be short, straight, broad, flat, hard, 

 sinewy, and wiry-looking. It is a bad sign of the con- 

 stitution to see it round, gummy, and soft-looking. 



