THE LEGS AND FEET. 107 



and moderately far apart. If they tend to converge at the 

 hocks, "cow-hocks," or at the fetlocks, their power of support 

 is lessened. Hocks that turn outward tend to diminish the 

 speed. 



Viewed from the side, the curve from the buttocks to the 

 hocks should be moderate (neither very deep nor very 

 slight). The hocks should be large, "well let down," and 

 their junction with the parts above and below free from any 

 abrupt differences in size. 



The canon bones should be short and broad and flat on 

 the sides. The line from the hocks to the fetlocks should 

 be straight, and the tendons hard and well defined. If this 

 line is concave, " sickle-hocks," the power of propulsion is 

 lessened ; and if convex a " curby " tendency, or the exist- 

 ence of curbs, is indicated. 



The fetlocks have been described in a preceding para- 

 graph treating of the fore legs. 



The pasterns should be somewhat shorter and straighter 

 than those of the fore legs, as their chief function is that of 

 propulsion ; and not being subjected to the same amount 

 of concussion it is desirable that strength should be para- 

 mount to elasticity. 



THE FEET. 



The feet should be moderately large and uniform in 

 size. 



The wall should be smooth, hard and long enough to 

 give a depth of fully an inch at the heels. A rough wall 

 indicates a diseased condition. 



The slope of the hoofs of the fore feet is greater than that 

 of the hind ones, and corresponds more or less accurately with 



