DEFECTS AND BLEMISHES. 11 



the drooping croup are unsightly; when the croup droops and also 

 becomes narrow below the tail, the conformation is known as "goose 

 rump " and is a sign of weakness. 



The dock should be large and muscular; the tail carried firmly and 

 well away from the quarters. 



The quarter (thigh and buttock) and gaskin should be broad. 

 The muscles of the two quarters should come close together, leaving 

 no hollow below the anus; the widely separated conformation is an 

 indication of a want of constitution. 



The hock should be of good size, but clean and flat, and with a 

 good clean point standing clear of the joint. The two hocks should 

 stand well apart, but not enough to give the horse the appearance 

 of being "bow-legged." "Cow-hocked," so called, is when the 

 hocks stand close together and the hind feet wide apart, with the toes 

 turned out. 



If the hocks stand in, it will be noticed that the stifles stand out, 

 and the reverse. "Straight hock" and "crooked hock" are terms 

 used to express the shape of the hind leg as seen from the side; both 

 shapes are objectionable. "Sickle hock" describes the curve which 

 results from a crooked bock, a short cannon, and a sloping pastern. 



The cannon should be short, not tied in below the hock, and the line 

 from the point of the hock to the back part of the fetlock should be 

 straight. 



The fetlock when bent forward is an indication of weakness known 

 as "cocked ankle." The hind fetlocks, pasterns, and feet should 

 correspond to those of the fore extremity, but the pasterns are usually 

 more upright. 



DEFECTS AND BLEMISHES. 



Defects and blemishes are those results of injuries (more or less 

 severe) which show on the outside of the body. They are regarded 

 as external diseases, and may be classed as follows: 



1 . Diseases of bones. 



2. Diseases of synovial membranes. 



3. Diseases of muscles, tendons, ligaments, and skin. 



4. Diseases of the foot. 



1 . Diseases of hones. 



Bone spavin. — Location : Lower and inner part of the hock joint. 



Splints. — Location: Usually appearing on the inner side of the 

 upper third of the front cannon ; occasionally found on the outer side 

 of the upper third of the hind cannon. 



Sidebones (ossification of lateral cartilages). — Location: Sides of 

 the foot just above the coronet. 



Ringbone. — Ix)cation: Between coronet and fetlock joint. 



