78 EXAMINATION OF HORSES 



consciences of most men are extremely elastic in matters 

 equine. So that a temporary and easily removable un- 

 soundness has not, under such circumstances, a fair 

 chance. Then again it is far less satisfactory to have 

 to give either in writing or orally a qualified opinion. 



Ringbone more usually affects the hind pasterns, but 

 may be found on the fore ones. Ringbone is an un- 

 soundness which cannot for a moment be regarded in 

 any mitigated light. You ought, however, to bear in 

 mind that the asperities at the sides of the heads of 

 the coronal bones for the insertion of the lateral 

 ligaments may be so prominent as to mislead un- 

 guarded persons into the belief that ringbone is present. 

 When ringbone is present, you have a most unmistak- 

 able ''ring" of bone, if not actual lameness and 

 stiffness, 



Sidebones (ossified lateral cartilages) are among the 

 commonest forms of ailment of heavy cart horses, but we 

 seldom find them in the lighter breeds. We not unfre- 

 quently find the lateral cartilages strong but yielding, and 

 when that is the case a horse with a good foot otherwise 

 may be considered as sound. About nine months ago 

 I passed such a horse for one of my best clients, which 

 was to cost Httle short of three hundred pounds. These 

 strong lateral cartilages are not ossified, and have no 

 particular tendency that way. If you can feel them 

 yield, no matter how little, they are not ossified. Very 

 different, however, is it in the heavy-bodied dray horse 

 in which they have a strong tendency towards ossification. 



