A SOUND HUNTER 



amination of the fore-limb, but no mention has 

 been made of speedy cutting, which, so far as the 

 writer is aware, is uncommon in hunters. The 

 body or the middle-piece must be gone over 

 with the hand, more especially the back of the 

 loins, to note whether there is any evidence of 

 old or recent saddle-galls, stiffness of the back, 

 &c. The inside of the thigh must also be 

 inspected, and after this has been done, the hind 

 limb examined from above to below ; the most 

 important part is the hock, this being the seat 

 of bone-spavin, bog-spavin, and various bursal 

 swellings. The best method of detecting bone- 

 spavin is to view the hock in profile from the 

 front, and, by means of the hand, compare it with 

 its fellow, when any difference in size will be 

 noted. If spavin is present, it appears as a 

 slight enlargement at the inner and lower aspect 

 of the hock. The hock is also liable to be the 

 seat of curb, thoroughpin, capped hock, &c., all 

 of which are usually regarded as constituting 

 unsoundness, but are referred to in another 

 chapter. Pick up the foot and flex the hock, as 

 freedoin of shoulder and hock action are vital to 

 the work of a hunter. This completes the 



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