SPAVIN. 



255 



usually curable ; but not that of old horses (see below remarks on 

 occult spavin). 



Coarse hocks need not be viewed with suspicion if both be exactly 

 similar and the action good. Faulty action from spavin is gener- 

 ally indicated by undue wear at the toe (Fig. 1, p. 5). The term, 

 " coarse " hock, is applied to tliose hocks in which the head of 

 the cannon bone and the prominences on the bones above it are 

 largely developed. In them, the cuneiform bones are large, and 

 consequently this shape is the one best adapted for diminishing the 

 ill effects of concussion and compression. Although the hock 



Ten Jon of 

 tfcLstrocn gniiiLs ejctcmns.^ 



Perfcrojis teiuivn^ 



Tibi. 



Astraxjoiuj. . . 



Ltwge cuneiibrm 

 Median cunei/umu 



Large metatarsal 

 i catw.on j 



Perfaratiis tenxlon 



Os calcis 



■ Os calcis 



Per/hratus 

 Pertbraas 

 Cuboid bone, 



"— S- -Small cunafomt, 

 - . Small jjdmt bi?ric 



Fig. 98. — Inner side of off hock. 



shown in Fig. 96 and its fellow were too coarse to be passed by 

 most veterinary surgeons ; their owner, a well-bred Irish mare, 

 had perfect action in them, and was a very clever hunter and 

 remarkably '' big " jumper. This furnished a good example of the 

 not uncommon case of the existence of spavin being no detriment 

 to a horse's action. Experience teaches that work develops bone 

 as well as muscle ; consequently hunters, as a rule, have coarser 

 hocks than liacks and light harness horses. 



If an " aged " horse has coarse hocks and goes sound, especially, 

 if he has good action, there is little probability of his becoming 



