EXAMINATION OF HORSES 



of making a thorough examination, — then there is 

 every excuse for any but the most glaring errors ; 

 but, even in these cases, we are bound in honour to 

 take every advantage which offers. There are more 

 methods than one ; indeed, you will hardly ever find 

 two veterinarians have the same way of going about 

 the task; but a method of some kind you must have, 

 and if it be imperfect, you must study to perfect it; 

 but whatever it is, you must follow it always, if you 

 wish to avoid mistakes. The one I have followed, 

 and which has seldom led me wrong, is the one 

 taught at this college by the late Professor Dick. It 

 consists of, or rather is capable of being considered 

 under, three divisions: i. Seeing a horse for as long 

 a time as possible in his stable ; 2. Seeing him and 

 feeling his several points when standing on level 

 ground outside the stable; and 3. Seeing him in his 

 various paces, and watching and listening to his respi- 

 ration, and afterwards removing his fore shoes. 



Just a word as to the class of horse we must take 

 for our example. Fortunately the hunter will do for 

 our type. There is nothing in the world a horse can 

 do which we do not find the hunter capable of. He 

 sadly too often sees all sides of horse life, and fills 

 all situations creditably; indeed, the hunter is wrong 

 nowhere where the services of the horse are required ; 

 so that we will, if you please, take as our type a 

 hunter standing fifteen-two and up to thirteen stone 

 across country. Every point of any value which a 



