250 PRODUCTIVE FARMING 



are easily detected. Have him stand over to the other side 

 of the stall; he may have string-halt and, if so, may be 

 unable to lift the foot on the affected side. Look for the 

 halter-pulling habit. 



Inspection Out of Doors. — Out in the yard, examine 

 every part of the head, legs, feet, and body for diseases and 

 defects. Go all over one side and then the other, being care- 

 ful to overlook nothing. Look for colds or similar troubles 

 about the nose, and swellings about the lower jaw and throat 

 Examine the mouth for bad teeth. The mouth may show 

 signs of a harsh bit. The eye should be free from bad dis- 

 charges, and must be sensitive to light. Feel the top of the 

 head for sores or swelling or any unusual tenderness which 

 would make him hard to bridle. The withers and back may 

 show scars of old running sores. Look for signs of collar boils 

 on the shoulders. Scars on the knees may indicate a stum- 

 bling habit. Watch closely for enlargements, wind-puffs, 

 or other defects of the front legs. Feel for ring-bones, 

 bunches or scars near the hoofs and just above them. 

 Feel the cartilages at the back of the hoof on both 

 inner and outer sides; if hard they are called side hones, 

 and will cause lameness. The hoof should be of proper 

 shape, size and color, free from cracks, and the foot not 

 contracted at the heel. The frog in the center of the 

 sole should be elastic. 



The hind leg and foot can usually be examined without 

 danger by having some one hold up the front foot on the 

 same side of the body. Look for signs which indicate a kick- 

 ing habit. The hocks are important and the two should be 

 compared in detecting curly hocks, soft or bog-spavin, and 

 bone-spavin. Compare the right and left legs below the 

 hocks in looking for ring-bones, scratches, cracks or any 

 defects of the hoof and foot. Walk, trot, and gallop the 

 horse and watch closely to detect any irregularity in 

 gait, due to lameness or bad habits. Heaves and other 



