98 LESSONS IN HORSE JUDGING. 



79. — The hock^ (our ankle) is a highly important 

 joint on account of the frequency of its break- 

 downs. It is X3laced under, and forms an angle 

 with the large bone, the tibia, which transmits 

 the weight of the body on its upper surface, and 

 is placed over, and is in a li7ie with the long bone 

 below, the metatarsal bone, which has to meet 

 the weight of the body at this point, and form 

 a support for it every time thejbody has to be 

 propelled forward. We must never lose sight of 

 the fact that the angle is at the bottom of the 

 tibia, and at the top of the hock, and that the 

 direction of the weight of the body is represented 

 by the long axis of the tibia. This direction of 

 weight is easiest combated the less the angle 

 formed at the hock, just as a straight upright 

 pillar will bear a greater weight than oue which 

 has a bend or angle in it, and the greater this 

 bend or angle, the less able is the pillar to sup- 

 port weight put upon it. The weight of the horse 

 is, we have said, transmitted through the tibia, 

 and is not a dead weight so to speak, that is to 

 say it is not like the steady downward pressure 

 of a weight having no other influences save grav- 

 ity on the one hand and the resisting medium on 

 which it rests on the other. It may be compared 

 to the pressure exerted on the end of the village 

 urchin's bow when he has planted one end on 

 the ground, is bending the wood with his right 

 knee whilst he hokls the bow firmly pressed to 



* Tho student should procure the bones of ii sound hock. Any 

 horse-slaughterer's man will procure and prepare these for a shilling 

 or so. 



