‘ 
114 EXAMINATION OF HORSES 
up and back on the larger articular surface over 
which it glides, and so exposes this latter surface, then 
the apparent larger size is manifest,—indeed the front 
, of the hock is very largely made up of this large articular 
surface. . 
What is the lesson which all these considerations 
teach us? Is it not this, that all hocks are of the same 
oe eRe 
size, or nearly so, relatively to the size of the animal, >: ~~ 
and their difference is apparent only, and not real, in 
more cases than at first sight appears? That they differ 
in size in relation to the horse is quite’ true, but not 
nearly so much as do the feet. 
. IT hope by the above to have made it clear why 
straight hocks are preferred to crooked ones by all 
using horses except for cavalry purposes; for these it |. «+ 
is needful that the hind legs be well under the belly, 
that the movement, consisting of turning short round, 
called “wheeling,” be the more rapidly and easily 
accomplished ; but for all other purposes that I know 
(fast trotting perhaps excepted), the hocks cannot be 
too straight, because, as has been shown, the straighter 
they are the more advantageously are they placed, as has 
been shown. 
The diseases of the hock are due to concussion and 
sprain entirely if we except capped hock, and this is. 
just what we should expect. They are— 
1. Bone Spavin. 
2. Bog 
” 
