Horse Buying and Horse Trying 119 



strong and rug-ged, but not handsome, and apt to be 

 associated with a Hght loin. 



The great thigh muscles should run down into 

 a strong, bony, well-developed hock-joint; large it 

 must be, coarse it may he, provided all the other 

 joints of the body show the same characteristic — 

 the sinew large and broad. The lower thigh bone 

 should meet the hock at a rather sharp angle, but 

 thence the leg should run as straight as a line to the 

 pastern. Any departure from this conformation 

 renders curb liable, from local friction and inflamma- 

 tion. 



The very smooth, neat, and finely turned hock is 

 the one that is liable to trouble, especially if the 

 shank, as it joins the hock, is very small, thus pre- 

 venting sufficient resting-place or surface for this 

 most important joint to w^ork upon, and not suffi- 

 ciently distributing the concussion. Improper shoe- 

 ing throws the whole mechanism of the hind leg out 

 of gear, and spavin results. Broad, wide bone, clean 

 in tendon and sinew, and free from appearance of 

 " softness," is essential. 



