700 THE AMERICAN FARMER. 



The knees are often too carelessly examined. It is not enough that there is no trembling 

 of the joint, that it shuts back well, and is well shaped. If there are any bunches, hard or 

 soft, or any scars in front, it is a pretty sure sign that the horse is a stumbler, and is 

 unsafe. 



Just below the knees, and upon the inside of the leg, look for splints; if small, and 

 removed from the joint, they may in no way affect the usefulness of the animal, but they are 

 unsightly and objectionable. The feet require the closest scrutiny. Reject horses that have 

 split or flat hoofs, as they will be fit only for slow work. Where the feet are high and nar 

 row at the heels, it is a serious objection, as such feet are very liable to founder, and other 

 diseases. 



The legs and feet proving satisfactory thus far, take a look at the body. If the ribs are 

 round, the back short, and his wind good, little more need be required. To determine the 

 soundness of the wind is sometimes difficult, especially if the horse is in high condition, and 

 has been dieted and medicated with the view of concealing some defect in it. The best way 

 to determine this is to make him trot briskly about one hundred rods, and as soon as he has 

 done this, let him stand perfectly still and watch closely his breathing. If he breathes easily, 

 and without any apparent effort, and especially if, as soon as he stops, he draws one or two 

 long breaths that fill the lungs to their utmost capacity, without any appearance of distress, his 

 wind may be pronounced good; but if there is the least evidence of painful respiration, or 

 catching for breath, something is wrong, and the animal should be rejected. Heaves, or 

 broken wind, is a common disease at the East, but at the &quot;West it is comparatively very rare; 

 hence, the purchaser will be more on his guard to detect the disease in a horse raised at the 

 East, than in one raised at the West. 



While the horse is moving, notice carefully his action, and to do this take such a posi 

 tion that ho can move by you on level ground, and at a sufficient distance from you to give 

 a good view of him. Notice particularly the action of the forelegs, see that the joint at the 

 shoulder plays freely, that the feet are not raised too high, that he reaches out boldly in his 

 step with his forelegs, and throws his weight freely upon them. If he does this, you may be 

 pretty sure the feet are sound and good, and the shoulders unhurt. On the contrary, if the 

 horse does not carry his feet well forward, but takes a short, mincing step, and puts down 

 his feet cautiously, they are unsound; and if the legs seem stiff, and tied up at the shoulders, 

 he is chest-foundered. These things should be carefully observed when the horse is first 

 moved, for if he is but a little stiff in his shoulders, the stiffness generally disappears entirely 

 after a little exercise. 



After having carefully noticed these things, and also his general style and appearance, 

 take such a position that you can watch the movement of his feet as he comes directly towards 

 you, and goes directly from you; see that he carries forward his feet in a straight line, and 

 that he does not travel too close or too wide, for if very close he will be apt to cut, or inter 

 fere, and if too wide, his gait will be labored and awkward. 



While the horse is moving, see if he hesitates to turn short and_ quick; if he does, and 

 appears in the least stiff in the back, you may conclude that he has been strained there, and 

 a horse that has once been severely strained in his back rarely, if ever, fully recovers, and is 

 unfit for any kind of business, but if the back is such as we have described, there will be 

 little danger of this complaint. 



These defects, at which we have glanced, by no means comprise all the diseases or defects 

 of tho horse, nor are the methods we have pointed out in all cases the only ones. We have 

 aimed only to glance at the most serious and ordinary defects, and point out the simplest 

 means of detecting them. Some quite common defects we have not noticed, as, for instance, 

 string-halt. This is not considered unsoundness in ordinary circumstances, and where it 

 is so bad as to become seriously objectionable, it cannot fail to be noticed by the most care 

 less observer. 



