62 SYMPTOMS OF SPAVIN. 



neither are " sickle hocks" nor " cow hocks" thereto disposed : 

 this may arise from their experiencing less concussion than hocks 

 of another description. After all, however, there is no hock of any 

 form or kind that can be said to be exempt from spavin ; and 

 many spavins will be fomid referrible to injury which would pro- 

 bably have produced them in any hock whatever. The horses of 

 the cavalry are of a description that, taking them as a body, are 

 disposed to spavin; and, formerly, when the manege and drill 

 exercises were a great deal more violent and trying than they are 

 at present, a great number of spavined horses might be found 

 among them. Since, however, the pace has become moderate, 

 and the halts less abrupt, and more time has been given to the 

 cavalry recruit horse for the evolution of his natural powers, the 

 disease has much abated in prevalence. 



The Exciting Causes of Spavin, after what has been said 

 concerning the predisposing, will appear to be fairly inclusible 

 under two general heads : — one being, extension, strain, sprain, or 

 laceration of the fibrous tissues of the hock ; the other, concussion 

 of its joints. Hard galloping or hard trotting, and sudden pulling 

 up — springing into the leap or jump — pesading or croupading 

 upon the haunches, heavy tugging draft, &c. ; — these are the 

 actions most likely to cause such injuries, and they will be, 

 ccBteris paribus, the more likely to occasion them, the greater the 

 weight the horse has at the time upon his back — if more than he 

 is able well to carry in rapid progression, or to produce spring of 

 the body or leap with. Mr. W. Goodwin, many years ago, made 

 the remark*, and he was confirmed in it at the time by the obser- 

 vation of the late Mr. Boutall, that curbs of which horses were not 

 completely cured not infrequently led to the production of spavins. 

 We find old writers on farriery ascribing spavins to hloivs : so 

 unlikely, however, is such a part as the inner surface of the hock 

 to receive a blow, and so varied would be the situation of spavin 

 (which we find is not the case) were it produced by blow, that 

 there needs no hesitation in declaring such an assertion to have 

 been made without foundation — hypothetically. 



* See Veterinarian for 1830. — Discussions of the Veterinary Society. 



