:36 THE HIND LIMB. 



For purposes of speed, the hock should possess the power 

 of being fully extended {see p. 63) ; hence, the beauty of a 

 "straight dropped" hind leg (see PI. 51). In all great 

 gallopers {see Pis. 18 and 55), we may see this kind of 

 conformation ; although it is true that some fairly speedy 

 horses (but not of the highest class) have had their hocks 

 more bent than the types I have given. This ability to 

 straighten the hock is not required to any great degree, in 

 animals that are used at slow paces. " Sickle-hocks " {see 

 PI. 49), as those are termed which remain bent to a marked 

 degree, when the joint is extended as much as possible, are, 

 however, objectionable in any kind of horse. 



While recognising the desirability of straight hocks for 

 speed, we must not forget that this kind of conformation, to 

 be effective, must be accompanied by good length of hind 

 limb from hip-joint to foot, in order to obtain adequate flexion 

 as well as extension. If the hind leg be comparatively short 

 and the hock straight, as in PL 36, it is evident that there 

 will be but little straightening out of the limb, when the 

 "shove-off" is beinsf ofiven. 



The width of the leg, immediately below the hock 

 (looking at the limb in profile), should be as great as possible 

 compared to the width of the fetlock. This desirable shape 

 (which has its analogy in the fore limb, see p. 219) is well 

 shown in Pis. 51, 52 and 53. I may remark that the hock 

 shown in PI. 52, which is that of a half-bred saddle nag, is 

 not a particularly straight one, although it is otherwise well 

 shaped. PI. 50, is a capital illustration of the defect known 

 as " tied-in " below the hock. 



We are all agreed that a horse should have large hocks, 

 an expression which — granting that the other points of the 



