ELEMENTS OF HIPPOLOGY. 217 



ertions, or unless he is seriously unsound in one or both of his 

 front legs. . Whatever the cause of the broken knees, reject 

 the horse. v 



If the knees are sound, look at the head of the cannon-bone, 

 on the inside, for scars of speedy cut. This, as we have seen, is 

 a defect of action caused by fcad conformation. It is a fault 

 difficult to eradicate. The blow is so painful as to frequently 

 bring the horse to his knees. It is liable to recur at any time, 

 and, as the blow is given only when the horse is going at top 

 speed, the accident resulting from his fall is sure to be a serious 

 one. For this reason, unless the horse is wanted for slow work 

 only, reject him when he shows a scar of speedy cut. 



Splints are found between the knee and fetlock, on or near 

 the splint-bones. They are recognized as small bony knots, 

 easily felt. If they lie forward on the cannon-bone and not 

 near the knee, they usually are harmless. If they are on the 

 back of the cannon-bone, they may interfere with the action of 

 the tendons. To test this, apply pressure to the tendons. If 

 the horse shows pain by flinching, and the tendons show inflam- 

 mation, reject him. A pegged splint is almost sure to cause 

 permanent lameness. 



Passing the hand down the back tendons, compress them 

 steadily. Any tenderness or signs of inflammation is cause 

 of rejection. 



Carefully inspect the fetlock, pastern, and ankle for wind- 

 galls, ringbones, sidebones, and grease, and the coronet for 

 treads and quittor. 



Inspect the pastern and ankle for scars of firing or neu- 

 rotomy. Be very suspicious- of any scars m this region. A 

 horse that has been nerved has but a brief period of usefulness 

 ahead of him. 



Pick up the foot and examine the sole for contracted heels, 

 thrush, canker, and corns. See that the sole is concave, and 



