218 A HUNTING CATECHISM 



lame one does, as the power to bring forward the 

 lame hind-leg is necessarily deficient. 



Q, When examining a horse for soundness, 

 ^vhat methods should be used ? 



A, After trotting and walking the horse to see 

 if it is sound it is usual to begin with the head, 

 and after examining the eyes, and the glands of 

 the neck and under the jaws, to glance over the 

 neck to see if there are any signs of having been 

 bled at any time. The hand is then run over 

 each leg in succession ; and finally the horse is 

 tested for wind. If it can be ridden it must be 

 sent along at a gallop for some distance, and only 

 pulled up when close to the examiner, so that he 

 may hear the breathing when fully developed. 

 The horse should then be threatened with a stick 

 to see if it grunts ; turned round sharply each 

 way in a circle of its own length to test for string- 

 halt ; and finally backed to see if it is a " shiverer." 

 If any doubt as to lameness exists, the horse 

 should be put into a stable for at least half an 

 hour, and then led out again. While if there is 

 the least suspicion of broken wind a man should 

 be put on the horse's bare back, without a saddle, 

 when evidence of the malady will at once be given 

 which may have escaped every other test. 



Q. What is a " shiverer " ? 



A. It is a nervous disease connected with 

 paralysis, and quite incurable. The animal may 

 look perfectly well and move all right when 

 going straight forward, but it cannot go back- 

 wards. The horse is useless for work, except of 

 the slightest description. 



Q. Can horses be prevented from kicking in 

 the stable ? 



