SOUNDNESS. 183 



flat, on the toe, one side, or on the heel is important. As the horse 

 passes from the observer the movements of the hips and hind 

 legs are noted with a view to detecting lameness in those parts. 

 Examination in motion on hard road or pavement should be 

 made, especially to bring out diseases of the feet. Then motion 

 in deep mud, or in snow should be studied. Failing these, he 

 should be made to step over a rail or plank held up about a foot 

 from the ground in order to detect or make more prominent 

 possible soreness or lameness in the shoulder or hip. 



The lungs. — Finally, the horse should be given vigorous ex- 

 ercise. For instance, a run to a heavy wagon, or a short run up 

 hill to determine whether the lungs are normal, or in other words, 

 for the purpose of testing his wind. It is possible to partially dis- 

 guise abnormal breathing while a horse is at rest, but it is prac- 

 tically impossible to do so if the horse is given violent exercise and 

 the latter should preferably be done after feeding and watering. 



COMMON FORMS OF UNSOUNDNESS. 



The most common and obvious forms of unsoundness are: 

 Bad eyes; glanders shown at the nose; poll evils just back of the 

 ears, at the top of the neck ; fistula at the withers ; heaves, shown 

 in breathing; splints, along the cannon; injured tendons; farcy 

 sores on limbs or body ; bruised ankles from interfering ; sidebone 

 and ring bones at the pastern ; navicular disease, corns, founder, 

 cracks, etc. at the foot; fractured hip (hip shot) ; spavin at the 

 hock in front and curb at the hock behind. 



