THE HORSE. 59 



Cunning Lameness. 



In those cases in which horses are said to sham lame- 

 ness, that is, appearing sound at one time and unsound 

 at another, there is invariably something wrong ; it 

 is not a case of shamming, but of painful reality. (See 

 the article on " Unnerving.") In such cases a reason 

 can always be found, either in a slight touch of rheu- 

 matism, paralysis, or non -adjustment or misfit of the 

 saddle. 



To illustrate these facts, I will mention one out of 

 the many cases that have come under my notice. 



A friend of mine had a delightful little mare, re- 

 markable for her height in the withers, named 

 " Brunette." This mare I was requested to examine 

 with a view towards discovering the rationale of her 

 continually stumbling in a very serious manner, and 

 at uncertain and unexpected times. 



She was certain, if she made one initiatory stumble, 

 to continue stumbling all day ; contrariwise, if she did 

 not stumble soon after starting, she might be trusted to 

 do her day's work throughout, without stumbling. 



Upon examining her as to form, &c., I concluded 

 that the cause of this misbehaviour must be in some 

 fault in her tackle, and I therefore inquired whether 

 she always wore the same saddle. I was told that she 

 wore various saddles, which were shown to me ; I 



