SOUNDNESS AND UNSOUNDNESS 257 



when he warms up to his work, his lameness 

 wears off until it is only noticeable to a pro- 

 fessional dealer or a skilled vet. For this 

 reason, always examine a horse when he is quite 

 cool, as by so doing you have the double 

 advantaofe of seeing- him afterwards when he 

 has been sweated in a gallop. 



" Some spavined horses only show their afflic- 

 tion when a rider's weight is on their back. It is, 

 therefore, best to leave a horse in his stable for 

 an hour or more after your first examination, as 

 by then he has cooled down sufficiently to trot 

 out lame if he has a spavin, which did not show 

 itself when you saw the horse at work, but 

 perhaps not in the stable previously. 



" The cause of spavins, no matter which kind 

 they may be — bone, bog, or blood spavin — all 

 are produced by strain or concussion ; in most 

 cases the result of pulling or carrying more 

 weight than the horse is fitted to naturally. The 

 bones become callous, or, in the case of a bog 

 spavin, you get a soft enlargement in the front 

 of the seat of bone spavin. 



" Blistering, after severe firing, is the usual fate 

 of the spavined horse, if his owner wishes to work 

 him and is not ashamed of the unsightly blemish. 

 In veterinary counter-practice, the treatment 

 commonly adopted is that of blistering and rest, 

 with, if possible, a run at grass, or three months 

 in a straw-yard. In blistering for the cure of 

 bone-growths we should always advise hydbiniod 

 of a strength varying from i to 7 to i to 1 2 of 

 vaseline or lard, or lanoline." 



R 



