210 THE BIND LIMB 



The Hock. — On page 64, I have indicated the direction 

 which the hock should have, as viewed from behind We 

 have seen on page 58, that by a special an-angement 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 

 leo- 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 

 When the points of the hocks are turned in to excess 

 (Fig, 50), the effect on the eye is bad , but the mechanical 

 loss is small, unless, indeed, the fault be much exaggerated 

 If, on the contrary, the points of the hocks be 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 walking, 

 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 defects, it is better for a horse to have his hocks 

 turned in, than to have them turned out 



For purposes of speed, the hock should possess the power 

 of being fully extended (p. 51) , hence the beauty of a 

 ''straight dropped" hind leg. In all great gallopers 

 (Ormonde, Cloister, St Simon, Favonius, and Persimmon) 

 we may see^ this kind of conformation ; although it is true 

 that some fairly speedy horses (but not of the highest class) 

 have 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" (Fig. 316), 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 

 hmb from hip-joint to foot, in order to obtain full advantage 



