THE HORSE. 13 



If he has been down at all, even though the skin 

 has not been broken, there will always remain a scurf 

 under the hair, which, to the practised eye, is easily 

 perceptible. Where this is all the damage he has sus- 

 tained, he is neither unsound nor blemished. 



Where there is an obvious scar from a cut of the skin, 

 it is evidence of a broken knee, let the accident have 

 occurred when or how it may ; never heed the excuses 

 offered, take it for granted that it was done against the 

 animal's will, by coming in contact with the ground. 

 This state of broken knee is sound, and the mark a 

 blemish only, provided it is healed over and the skin 

 formed. Prior to this state of perfect cure, from the 

 time of the accident the horse is UNSOUND. 



Should the injury, however, have been sufficient to 

 divide the extensor tendon, or otherwise impede or 

 alter the action of the animal, although the part is 

 healed over, he is UNSOUND. 





Swollen Knees. 



Another case of injured, though not always broken, 

 knees, may as well be mentioned; that is, where 

 they are swollen : the horse is then UNSOUND. 



Where they are of a wenny, or capped, or callous 

 nature, neither increasing nor diminishing, nor re- 

 quiring extra care, and the action or work of the horse 

 is not interfered with, the horse is SOUND. 



