THE HOCK. 



313 



The Hock. — On page 82, the direction which the hock 

 should have, as viewed from behind, has been noted. We 

 have seen on page 74, that by a special arrangement of the 

 bones of the hock, the stifle is enabled to clear the abdomen, 

 without altering the direction of the hind foot, when the hind 

 leg is brought forward during movement. This action is 



I'hoto t/yl 



Fig. 386. — Upright shoulders and poor gaskins. 



[M. H. H. 



facilitated by the fact that, in a normally shaped leg, the 

 hock is directed slightly outwards as well as forwards. 

 When the points of the hocks are turned in to excess (Fig. 

 58), the effect on the eye is bad ; but the mechanical 

 loss is small, unless, indeed, the fault be much exaggerated. 

 If, on the contrary, the points of the hocks be turned out- 

 wards, the forward reach of the hind legs will be impeded 

 by the abdomen. Also, if we observe, from behind, a horse 

 which has this kind of conformation, and which is walking, 



