118 THE HORSE. 



backwards, at this part, the better, and the less liable 

 will the animal be to curbs and spavins. Llanercost 

 was particularly beautiful in this point. There was 

 plenty of room for the attachment of ligaments, and the 

 hock had a broad, firm basis to rest upon. 



It is a sign of bad feeding, constitutional weakness, 

 or a strong disposition to local disease, when the quan- 

 tity of sinovial secretion in the hock-joint is super- 

 abundant. If anything can add to the beauty of a well- 

 formed, large joint, it is that of its being clean, hard, 

 and free from tumefaction of eveiy kind. 



THE SHANK. 



The shank-bone should be short, broad, and flat. This 

 arrangement mil give strength, and, at the same time, 

 bring the hock near to the gi'ound. The back-sinews 

 ought to stand well out from the bone. In a well- 

 formed leg, these sinews are plain and distinct, and feel 

 as hard as cords. I have abeady aUuded to the pro- 

 per form of the upper end of the shank-bone, where it 

 joins the hock. The lower end requires to be strong 

 also, in order to form a strong connexion with the pas- 

 tern. Taken as a whole, from the hock to the heel, 

 the shank should be short, straight, broad, flat, hard, 

 sinewy, and wiry-looking. It is a bad sign of the con- 

 stitution to see it round, gummy, and soft-looking. 



