THE HOCK. 235 



out that width of gaskiii Is conferred by length of os calcis 

 {see p. 32), We may see from p. jo that the longer the os calcis, 

 the greater is the mechanical advantage at which the muscles 

 that are attached to the point of the hock, work. I may add, 

 that these muscles agree in length with the tibia, and that the 

 longer they are, the quicker will be the action of the hock in 

 propulsion. The gaskin should not alone be broad, for 

 purposes of speed ; but in all cases its muscles should be well 

 developed. In PL 48, the gaskin is poor. 



The Hock. — -On page 77, I have indicated the direction 

 which the hock should have, as viewed from behind. We 

 have seen on page 70, 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 

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

 hock is directed slightly outwards as well as forwards [see 

 PI. 12). When the points of the hocks are turned in to 

 excess [see PI. 14), the effect to the eye Is bad ; but the 

 mechanical loss Is small, unless, indeed, the defect be much 

 exaggerated. If, on the contrary, the points of the hocks be 

 naturally turned outwards, 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 walklno^, we shall as a rule find that each hock 

 instead of moving steadily In a straight line, receives a 

 peculiar twist (which must be accompanied by loss of power) 

 while it Is propelling the body forward. Experience certainly 

 teaches us that of the two faults, it is better for a horse to 

 have his hocks turned in, than to have them turned out. 



