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 X. To Avoid Vices and Defects.— How to Detect. 



They are legion- and he who at present buys any horse, 

 whether for speed or work must be on his guard against them. 

 Among the principal disabilities to be guarded against are : 



1. Bone spavin, curb, ring-bone and splints. — To detect 

 these look at the horse from before and behind for spavin and 

 curb at the hocks; for ring-bone, at the fetlocks and for 

 splints, below the knee. Feel the bones at all these parts for ten- 

 derness or enlargement. If they appear reject the horse in- 

 stantly. He will be worthless as a sire, or for riding or driving. 



2. Stumbling. — Examine the knees to find if they are scarred 

 or show the marks of previous injuriQs, or that have been 

 operated upon for collosities. Then walk him over somewhat 

 rough ground, and at a slow pace, with an entirely loose rein, to 

 see if he trips or goes weaker on one leg than on the other. If 

 he is a stumbler, he is the most dangerous animal a man can 

 own, unless it be a kicker ; in fact, more so than the latter, since 

 kicking maj^ be guarded against, when knowing the vice. 



3. Kicking. — If this is suspected, the animal will lay back 

 his ears if approached in an apparently careless manner, though 

 horses do this sometimes from mere playfulness. If they are 

 vicious, they will lay their ears more completely back, and the 

 eyes will also denote their intention. Examine the stall where 

 it is known they have stood for marks of the hoofs, and above 

 all, give the animal a chance to show his propensity when the 

 groom is not near. 



4. Pulling at the halter or bridle when tied.— Tie him 

 up in a close yard, with a halter he can easily break, leaving him 

 quite alone for about half an hour, to exhibit his propensity if he 

 will. 



5. Crib-biting. — If the horse is a confirmed crib-biter, his 

 teeth — the central incisors — will show wear where he has grasped 

 objects to enable him to get leverage to perform the operation. 

 Tie him out to a stump, or at a post about three feet high, and 

 watch him, no person being in his sight. 



6. Balking and backing. — Horses seldom balk under the 

 saddle, when they do, they are dangerous in the extreme, often 



