HUNTERS 



The front of the limb requires inspection at the 

 knee to see whether it is blemished, banged, or 

 otherwise injured. At the same time it can be 

 flexed in order to note its freedom of movement. 

 The pasterns and fetlock joint next demand in- 

 spection, this being the region, also that imme- 

 diately above the hoof, in which ringbone is 

 liable to make its appearance. When examining 

 the back of the limb, the left hand should be 

 passed over the tendons and the cannon bone, 

 which is commonly the seat of splint, sprained 

 ligaments, and thickened tendons, whilst below, 

 the fetlock is not uncommonly either puffy, or 

 enlarged, all of which constitute unsoundness. 

 It is impossible to over-estimate the importance 

 of sound feet in a hunter, in fact, in any horse 

 for that matter, and it is a general rule to 

 examine each of the feet when examining the 

 limbs, but it can be relegated to what the 

 author has, for convenience, designated the after 

 examination of special parts ; if not, then the foot 

 must be examined for sandcrack, flat-sole, side- 

 bone, brittle hoof, separation of the wall, thrush, 

 corn, canker, &c. (See chapter on diseases of 

 the feet.) This practically completes the ex- 



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