HORSES: THEIR POINTS AND MANAGEMENT 



structures are located. Spavin, then, consists of a variously 

 sized deposit of bony material upon the inner and lower part 

 of the hock, such deposit being the outcome of inflammation in 

 the bones and their covering in this region. One or both 

 hocks mav be spavined, sometimes increasing the size of the 

 joint so much as to render the spavin appreciable at a glance. 



\Mien both hocks are spavined there is greater difhculty 

 in determining the existence of the disease. Old horses having 

 spavin are particularly liable to suffer repeatedly from lame- 

 ness, because in them the disease is advancingly destructive, 

 whereas heavy draught horses over Ave years (but not old), 

 free from lameness, and well cared for, continue to do their 

 work practically as well as those free from spavin. It is usual 

 to advise the intending purchaser to buy such, of course insist- 

 ing upon a reduction of price. From £7 to £10 would be a 

 reasonable reduction. 



Lighter breeds of horses having bone spavin necessarily 

 lose that degree of mobility of the hocks so essential to them, 

 and to none more than the running horse, hunter and trotter. 

 Compare the hocks by the sense of touch, also measurement. 

 Hocks may be unequal in size, yet free from spavin. Spavin 

 lameness demands rest, cooling applications, and the use of a 

 high heeled shoe. The bony enlargement, i.e., the spavin, can 

 be fired, preferably, in points. The method leaves less blemish 

 than line firing, and gives better results. The term blood spavin 

 is applied to a varicose condition of a vein, passing over the 

 front and inner side of the joint, whilst the prefix bog means a 

 soft and swollen condition of the joint in general. Mere fulness 

 in this region ought not to be thus termed. 



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