LEGS OF THE llOUSK, THKIK ACCIDENTS AND DISEASES. 385 



XV. Interfering. 



Interfering is the effect of ii variety of causes that make the horse 

 brush the foot that is going forward against the other leg. It may be 

 either fore or hind. He may brush any part of the leg according to 

 the height to which he raises the foot, sometimes the knee or above it, 

 the shin or the coronet, but usually the fetlock. 



The fetlock is brushed when the horse is walking or on a dog trot ; the 

 coronet, on the walk with very low action ; the shin, on the trot when the 

 feet are raised higher than when the fetlock is brushed ; the knee, on the 

 trot with very high knee action; above the knee, when there is exces- 

 sively' high action. 



The effects of interfering are always bad, but particularly so when it 

 is the knee that is injured. Interfering is usually conlined to brushing the 

 foot against the leg, but sometimes the foot is brought 

 against the leg in such a manner as to strike it, causing the 

 horse to go off on three legs for a few steps, and doing great 

 injury by bruising the part. This is sometimes done by 

 horses that do not l)rush luibituall}^ but from some misstep 

 the foot is brought forward with a swing and strikes the 

 other leg in its passage. 



Causes. — Colts, before being shod, seldom or never inter- 

 fere, l)ut often do it as soon as shod, while in other cases the 

 fault does not appear until some bunijlino; shoeinjj is done. 



mi , • • .1" ^ . ? , ENLARGED 



Ihe shoemg is a common cause; tiie foot is often pared knee, prot.? 

 down too much on the inner side, tipping the fetlock in so as speedy cut. 

 to l)ring it in the way of the other foot ; the shoe is sometimes left too 

 full on the inner side, projecting out so far as to brush in passing ; beinof 

 shod too heavy or too light often causes it. Colts interfering when 

 shod first, is due to the increased weight of the feet, but when the 

 muscles become accustomed to carrying the shoes it disappears. Mal- 

 formation is a common cause ; the fetlocks are sometimes tipped in ; the 

 toes turned in or out giving a s\vinging motion to the fore feet. Weak- 

 ness is a common cause, and also thinness in flesh. 



How to know it. — There is often lameness from rt without any visible 

 marks on either leg or foot ; in such a case chalk the foot, or smear lamp- 

 black on it and move the horse and it will be demonstrated. But the 

 point struck is usually very plain, also a polished surface on the foot, 

 and sometimes blood on the hoof. 



What to do. — The first thing to l)e done, alwa3's, is to apply a l)oot to 

 the place on the leg that is brushed. Nicely-fitting boots for all parts of 

 the leg are made of both cloth and leather, that protect the part from 

 injury ; this done, proceed to remove the cause. If jt is \n the shoeing 



