96 THE HORSE. 



ENLARGED JOINTS. 



Enlarged joints, resulting from blows, sprains, and 

 wounds on the pastern-joints of the hmd-legs, are gener- 

 ally contracted in the field, and are, therefore, most com- 

 mon in hunters, and mostly on the hind-legs, the proxi- 

 mate cause being that the rider, by holding on by the 

 bridle during the leap, prevents him thereby from throw- 

 ing up his legs sufficiently to clear the fence. 



Those horses which have much timber or wall-jumping 

 to do are the most subject to these defects. 



If there is no raw place, but a scar only; if the skin has 

 completely grown over the injured part; and if the en- 

 largement has arrived at its full size, and become hard 

 and bony, so as not to interfere with the horse's action 

 and capacity to perform his usual work, he may he held 

 to be Sound. 



The enlargement is a Blemish. 



See the article on "Spavins," "Curbs," etc. 



SOFT enlargements. 



During the formation of soft enlargements, and until 

 their result is ascertained, the horse is Unsound. 



If, upon their being fully developed, they do not im- 

 pede the horse in the execution of his work, he is 



Sound. 



But, when they are so large as to be unsightly, they 

 are Blemishes. 



See articles on " Windgalls," " Thorough-pins," "Bog- 

 spavin," "Curbs," and "Spavins." 



long pasterns. 



When long pasterns do not impair the horse's action, by 

 causing weakness, as described in the articles " Cutting" 

 and " Speedy-cut," he is Sound. 



