Severing or damaging the tendons at the back of a horse’s hock joint, effectively crippling the animal, is what the phrase refers to. This act renders the horse unable to extend its hind leg properly, severely limiting its mobility and usefulness. Historically, it was a brutal method employed to incapacitate the animal, often to prevent its escape or to render it useless to an enemy in warfare.
The significance of incapacitating a horse in this manner stemmed from the animal’s crucial role in transportation, agriculture, and military operations. A horse rendered unable to perform these functions represented a substantial loss of resources and power. The consequences for the animal were devastating, leading to permanent disability and, in many cases, death due to inability to forage or escape predators. It also highlighted a callous disregard for animal welfare.
