HUNTERS 



SPLINT 



This is one of the commonest troubles met 

 with in the fore limbs of light horses, although 

 not confined to the latter. Hunters are very- 

 subject to splint, which is particularly liable to 

 develop before they reach four years of age, 

 though there is no age-limit as regards the 

 production of splint. It is such a common 

 disease, that if one had to reject every horse 

 with splint, the proportion of sound horses 

 would become very small. The reason why 

 splint is so common in the fore limbs is because 

 of the greater degree of concussion to which 

 these are exposed. Almost every horseman is 

 familiar with the situation in which splint 

 appears, namely, the back or side of the 

 cannon bone, commonly at the upper third of 

 the last named, though not confined to such 

 situation. It may be that the splinty deposit is 

 close under the knee ; or towards the lower end 

 of the cannon bone, whereas in other instances 

 it is situated on the front of the cannon bone. 

 When close to the knee, it is customary to 

 regard its position as being a bad one, and 



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