102 LESSONS IX HORSE JUDGING. 



The depth of the thigh is well seen from behind, 

 but it appears deeper, if not really so, in snch as 

 have straight quarters for reasons we have before seen. 

 There is just one other obliquity of the innominate 

 bone which we have as yet not mentioned. It obtains 

 between the two symmetrical halves of the innominate 

 bone, in other words, between the two ilio-ischia 

 bones. When these bones are much divergent in 

 front and their after points converge, a very de- 

 fective ' setting on' of the hind limbs results and 

 the hind limbs look outwards. This being so, the 

 hocks are closer together, and the horse is said 

 to be 'cow hocked.' The ilio-ischia bones ought 

 to be as parallel as possible, so that the hind limbs 

 look straight forwards and backwards, when the 

 horse is standing. In moving, the hip joint and 

 the screw-like astragalus cause the limb naturally 

 to assume the slightly outward aspect. In ourselves 

 this is so, and the dancing master or drill serjeantis 

 not to be thanked that our toes are a little out-turned, 

 because as the hip joint is constituted, they could 

 not be otherwise. 



It is hoped that the above remarks will form a 

 good guide to those who are desirous of thinking out 

 for themselves the numberless points to be observed 

 m horse judging. 



We shall now close these remarks with a few 

 observations on the hock. 



