THE HOCK. 211 



from flexion and extension. If the hind leg be compara- 

 tively short and the hock straight, as in Fig. 280, it is 

 evident that there will be but little straightening out of the 

 limb, when the *' shove-off" is being given. 



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. 195) is well 

 shown in Figs. 311, ^i'^, and 314. I may remark that the 

 hock in Fig. 314, which is that of a half-bred saddle nag, is 

 not a particularly straight one, although it is otherwise well 

 shaped. Fig. 3 1 7 is a capital illustration of the defect known 

 as *'tied-in" below the hock. Fig. 311 shows a beautifiil 

 hock — with great bone and straight-dropped hind leg — of a 

 smart and strong hurdle racer and chaser (Mariner by 

 Geologist). We may contrast it very favourably with the 

 hock in Fig. 319. The hock (that of a thoroughbred) in 

 Fig. 318, though fairly good, is neither so straight nor has 

 such good bone just below the joint as that in Fig. 311. The 

 leg in Fig. 312 belonged to a yearling thoroughbred, by 

 Highland Chief, that had, as we may see from the photo- 

 graph, remarkably good hocks for her age. 



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

 an expression which — ^granting that its shape is good in other 

 respects — is synonymous with '' strong hocks.'' If we find 

 that a horse is not **tied-in" below the hock, and that his 

 gaskins are broad {i,e, his os calcis long), we may rest assured 

 that his hocks are of good size. 



As the diseases and injuries of the hock belong to the 

 domain of equine surgery, and as I have investigated them 

 in Veterinary Notes for Horse-owners, I shall not allude 

 further to them here. The desirable absence of synovial 

 enlargements and of an undue amount of cellular tissue will 

 be indicated by the bones, tendons, and ligaments, and by 

 the hollows and eminences formed by them, being clearly 

 defined underneath the skin. 



The horse has on the inside of each hind limb, and a little 



p 2 



