170 A t<TUDY OF FARM ANIMALS 



front, deep through from front to rear, and should be lean 

 rather than fleshy. Large, heavy horses tend to have what 

 are known as thick, meaty hocks. There are small bones 

 in this joint, and they are most important in reducing the 

 concussion which comes from the severe use thrown on the 

 hind legs when in action. 



The general features of the cannon, fetlock joint, pas- 

 tern, and foot in the front legs are essentially the same as 

 those behind, but the rear cannon bone is flatter and deeper 

 from front to rear, and usually shows somewhat more 

 length. The hind pasterns also are usually less sloping and 

 somewhat shorter than those in front. 



The position of the horse at rest should show the feet 

 squarely placed and the legs as perpendicular as possible, 

 as indicated by the position of the cannon bones. Horses' 

 legs may take a variety of positions. Sometimes they toe 

 in, or, perhaps, toe out. In such cases the legs are not 

 straight. If the hocks nearly touch, then the hind feet 

 usually point out; while, if there is considerable width be- 

 tween the hocks, the toes point in. A wide or bowed hock 

 shows a very weak conformation, worse than one that is 

 too close. Horsemen prefer the hocks to come close to- 

 gether rather than to be spread wide apart, for the closer 

 position gives the better hock action of the two. 



The horse at the walk should follow a straight Une 

 when led, not swinging the body to one side. The feet 

 should be raised with snap, and carried forward and upward, 

 and the knee and hock flexed, as it is termed. In this flexing 

 movement, the foot describes a half circle before it strikes 

 the ground. Heavy horses tend to swing the feet to one 

 side, or paddle or wing, as it is sometimes called. When 

 the feet in motion come too close together, the horse is said 

 to "interfere," that is, the hoof of one foot will strike the 

 ankle of another, interrupting smooth, uniform locomotion, 

 and may cause lameness. As the foot is raised, a person 



