HUNTERS 217 



Acute laminitis is indicated by great heat in 

 the foot, which frequently extends high up the 

 leg, and may throw the inquirer off the right 

 scent. The almost total inability of the horse to 

 move should, however, prevent any mistake being 

 made. The treatment recommended has been 

 mentioned on a previous page. 



Chronic laminitis is shown by loss of the 

 concave form of the sole, by wavy circular ridges 

 in the hoofs, by an abnormal degree of heat in 

 the foot, and by the animal treading as much as 

 possible on his heels, especially in the trot. A 

 lame leg does not cover so much ground in its 

 stride as a sound one, and the extent to which the 

 hind-foot covers the print of the fore-foot must 

 be carefully watched. Horses, however, that 

 have been hunted by ladies throughout the season 

 almost invariably walk much shorter with the 

 off hind-foot than with the near one, and yet go 

 sound when put .into a trot. This arises from 

 the pressure thrown on the off-side of the withers, 

 by the lady's weight being supported chiefly by 

 the stirrup and crutch on the near side ; and to 

 accommodate himself to this, the horse shortens 

 his stride on the off-side. 



If a fore-leg is lame the corresponding hind- 

 foot will cover the print of the fore-foot, when 

 walking to a greater extent than the other hind- 

 foot covers its fore-print, for the strides of the 

 two hind-legs are equal (except as above), while 

 those of the two fore-legs are unequal. 



In the case of the lameness of the hind-leg the 

 contrary is the case, the strides of the two hind- 

 legs being unequal, while those of the fore-legs 

 are equal. The sound hind-leg, therefore, covers 

 its fore-print to a greater Qxtent than its fellow 



