42 JUDGING HEAVY HORSES 



tion of power in this part, than the slope that has been first 

 mentioned. It is easy to see that when a muscle is perpen- 

 dicular to the weight to be lifted the power is applied in the 

 most advantageous way, just the same as when you wish to 

 lift a weight you stand straight over it instead of trying to 

 lift it at arm's length. There seems to be no real reason 

 why the croup should slope so markedly as it does in some 

 strains of horses, as it certainly detracts from their appearance. 



73. Thighs Muscled; Quarters Full. Passing down to 

 the hind leg the thigh should be closely examined for the 

 development of muscle in that region. The quarters should 

 also be observed with the same object in view. There is a 

 vast difference in horses in this respect, and it will sometimes 

 be found that horses very heavily muscled at the croup are 

 very lightly muscled in the quarters. It is a bad defect for 

 a draft horse to be deficient in muscle in the quarters, for it 

 is from these parts that they obtain most of their power to 

 pull. 



74. Hock Wide, Defined, Properly Set. The hock 

 should be closely examined, for in this joint there is likely 

 more work done than in any other single joint of the body. 

 Narrow, tied-in hocks are more subject to curbs than 

 those that are broad. Fleshiness or coarseness about the 

 hocks is very prevalent among draft horses and it is well to 

 examine such closely for bog spavins. The tendons running 

 from the hocks should be large, lean and firm. It is a com- 

 mon defect for a draft horse to be too straight or too crooked 

 in the hock. One that is set properly gives more power. 

 The worst trouble and the most common one to be noted in 

 hocks of draft horses is that of fleshiness or " gumminess," 

 and such are not only more liable to hock troubles, but it 

 indicates coarseness of organization which is not usually 

 associated with durability. In looking at the hock it should 

 appear wide both from in front of the horse and the side, 

 especially so from the latter point of view. The point of the 



