146 



CANADIAN FARM YEAR BOOK. 



Common Unsoundness in the Horse 



Bone spavin is one of the mo&t ser- 

 ious forms of unsoundness from wliioh 

 the horse is liable to suffer. As a rule 

 it is easily detected (by comparing the 

 size of the hocks for any variation to 

 saze or shape. The ibest view can be 

 obtained by str-oping m front of tne 

 horse and looking between the front 



blind spavin In. which no enlargement 

 is present, due to the fact that the in- 

 flammation is confined to the centre 

 or softer tissues of the ibone. Such 

 oases are difficult to diagnose and even 

 experts are at a loss at times to 'be 

 sure whether this condition is present 

 or not. 



FRONT VIEW OF FORE LEGS. 



A vertical line down from point of shoulder shall fall upon centre of knee, can- 



non, pastern and foot. A only shows the correct formation. 



legs under the body when any enlarge- 

 ment can easily be noticed. In sus- 

 pected cases ithe diagnosis can be con- 

 firmed by lifting the foot from the 

 ground and bending it forward and up- 

 ward bringing the hoof as near the 

 stifle joint as possible and retaining 

 it in that position, for a minute or two, 

 then letting it down and causing the 

 animal to walk off at once. When if 

 a spavin is present the lameness is 

 likely to be very noticeable for the 

 flrst few steps. There is a somewhat 

 rare form of spavin called occult or 



Ringbone 



Is another disease of ibone some- 

 what similar to spavin, but situateo 

 on the pastern between the hoof and 

 the fetlock. The enlargement usually 

 grows completely around the limb and 

 is easily detected. If the growth is 

 close down to the hoof the lameness 

 will usually yield to treatment and -the 

 animal be made to go sound, but the 

 enlargement will always remain. If, 

 however, the growth is an inch or so 

 higher up on the pastern, more or less 

 permanent lameness is likely to re- 



REAR VIEW OF HIND LEGS. 



Vertical line drawn downward from point of buttock should fall upon centre of 



hock, cannon, pastern and foot. A only indicates correct formation. 



