156 



Journal of Agriculture. 



[8 March, 1907. 



Action. 



Plr.ce the left foot between the horse's 

 hoofs from the front, with the left knee 

 jjressed firmly against the front of the 

 horse's near knee. Bend over to- 

 wards the back of the limb, and with the 

 thumbs of both hands press upon the 

 seat of sidebone. The pressure against 

 the horse's knee insures that his full 

 weight is thrown upon the foot during 

 the mani])ulation of the seat of side- 

 bone. 



Object. 



To detect sidebone by !he absence of 

 springiness of the lateral cartilages on 

 each side of the coronet when the horse's 

 foot is firm on the ground and bearing 

 weight. 



Lift the horse's foot by tugging at the 

 fetlock with the left hand, or preferably 

 by grasping the pastern with the right 

 hand and at the same time pressing the 

 muscles above the arm half-way be- 

 tween the shoulder and elbow with the 

 left thumb. When this pressure is ap- 

 plied most horses will relax the joints 

 and give up the foot straight away. 



With the left hand grasp the toe of 

 the hoof underneath and bring the foot 

 forward until all the joints of the limb 

 are fully extended. While the limb is 

 thus straightened out, press upon the 

 front of the knee and fetlock with the 

 right hand. 



To examine the under surface of the 

 shoe for " clicking," and of the hoof 

 for contracted heels, wasted frog, 

 thrush, canker, seedy toe, corns and 

 bruises, dropped sole and laminitis. Ex- 

 cept the shoe is removed examination 

 for corns and bruises is unreliable. 



To detect impediments to the full ex- 

 tension of the limb, and to put the 

 flexor tendons on the stretch, and so de- 

 tect any flinching from sprain. 



Return the foot to the former position, 

 and, while still held up, hand it to an 

 assistant to hold, with the knee and fet- 

 lock flexed until the examination of the 

 near side is almost completed. 



To prevent the horse kicking while 

 the hind parts are being examined. 



Taking a step rearward and facing 

 sideways on to the horse, with the left 

 hand examine the back from the withers 

 to the loins, and with the right hand 

 examine the brisket, flank, abdominal 

 wall and sheath. 



To detect sore back, saddle galls, sit- 

 fasts, warbles, girth galls, rupture, 

 warts and abnormality of external geni- 

 tals. 



Turn half round, facing forwards, 

 and with the right hand examine the 

 front of the near hind limb from hi]) to 

 hoof. 



To detect dropped hip, dislocation of 

 the stifle-cap (patella), bog spavin, bone 

 spavin, sallenders, splints, &c., as in the 

 fore limb. 



Turn full round, facing backwards, 

 and with the left hand examine the 

 croup, quarters and posterior aspect of 

 the limb down to the heels. 



To detect muscle sprains and wasting 

 or shrinking of the croup or quarters, 

 thoroughpin, caoped hock, curb, sprained 

 tendons, &c., as in the fore limb. 



Allow the fore limb to be dropped. 

 Lift the near hind foot bv bending 

 down and tugging at the fetlock with 

 the right hand, and at the same time 

 exerting a slight tilting pressure with 

 the left hand on the point of the hip. 

 When the limb is lifted, press it back- 

 wards, and support it bv allowing the 

 fetlock to rest on the left thifrh. 



To examine the under-surface of the 

 foot and detect defects and unsoundness 

 as in the fore foot. 



