CHAPTER V 



ON SPAVIN, ETC. 



In this chapter we will treat of spavin and bog-spavin, &c. 



On the inside portion of the houghs ^ there are situated certain 

 veins which are connected with the horse's yard. A swollen con- 

 dition of these veins indicates the disease called bog-spavin {motrd). 

 If these soft swellings are small, it matters little. If large, they 

 are an unsoundness. 



If you examine the same spot and detect a bony projection, 

 know that that is bone-spave {hadda) . Let the seller " gas " as he 

 may, give no ear to his multiloquence. If the spavin is pointed, the 

 horse is lame and will be the curse of your life. If, however, the 

 bony excrescence is flat and even, the spavin is called chiptd; 3 you 

 can gallop a horse with chiptd where you like. Even good judges 

 find it hard to detect haddd. 



If a horse has swollen knees, avoid it ; for it has what are called 

 " capped knees " [zdnu,d), and is unsound. Do not purchase it. 



If a small bony projection is found on the cannon-bone,^ it is 

 called a splint {hel-had4l) -^ It is not considered very bad as it can 

 be soon cured. The English, however, object very much to a 

 splint. 



If there is a thickening of the coronet ^ of a fore-foot,* buy 

 another horse to help it ; for if it is not yet lame, it will certainly 

 become so. This swelling is called " ring-bone of the fore-foot " 

 {chahdvnd), and is a disease to be feared. If the thickening is on 

 a hind-foot, get rid of the horse at once ; for it has got " ring- 

 bone on the hind-foot" {pushtdk). If, however, the swelling is 

 higher up, it is called "false ring-bone" {gdnd), and need 

 cause you no anxiety. The unsightliness, however, will always 

 remain. 



1 Ptchhdre pclfOn ke ghufne. 



2 Lit. " flat." 



3 Nali. 



* Also ber-haddi. 



» Bhon or bhaun, f . the coronet ; also the eyebrow. 



* Hath kd sum. 



