94 LESSONS IN HORSE JUDGING. 



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

 and tliat 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 one which has 

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

 angle, the less able is the pillar to support 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 gravity 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 bonding the 

 wood with his right knee whilst he holds the bow 

 firmly pressed to the ground with his left hand, and 

 is dragging the string upwards to the notch or 

 catch with his right hand. In such a case the end 

 resting on the ground is pressed downwards with 

 the left hand, and is dragged upwards through the 

 medium of the string with the other. Such a 

 weight differs much from a so called dead weight. 

 Excluding the long bones above and below which 

 meet the hock, and regarding only the intrinsic 

 bones of hock, we can divide them into three sets 

 according to their functions ; namely— 

 1. The gliding bone. 



