74 THE HOESE 



moving their legs forward from the hip in a rather 

 peculiar way, and thus more than cover with their 

 hind foot the print left by the front one. It can 

 only be repeated that hocks which are not bent 

 are often diseased, and that it is possible for the 

 unsoundness to be in such a position that it is 

 absolutely undiscoverable. In these cases, a 

 veterinary surgeon of course passes the horse as 

 sound, provided it is not actually lame at the time 

 he sees it. 



It is impossible to say whether horses with 

 occult spavin, as it has been called, should* be 

 purchased or refused. Much depends upon the 

 actual case ; but it is strongly recommended that 

 where this disease is suspected, a few days' trial 

 prior to purchase should be absolutely insisted 

 upon as a preliminary condition. If this is not 

 allowed, refuse the horse at any price. In an ob- 

 scure complaint of this nature, with no surface 

 indication, it is, of course, impossible to tell 

 whether the disease is active or is of long stand- 

 ing, and it is upon the elucidation of this point 

 that the advisabilit}" of purchase depends. If the 

 hock is slightly inliamed, a hard day's work will 

 result in lameness next day ; if the inflammatory 

 stage is long since past, the horse will be but little 



