DISEASES OF THE FORE-LIMB 157 



fering in the front feet is less conmion. Striking the inside of 

 the region of the knee with the opposite foot or " speedy cutting " 

 occurs in driving and speed horses. Both of the latter forms of 

 interfering may be considered unsoundnesses. 



The most common cause of interfering is faulty conforma- 

 tion, such as narrowness of the chest or pelvis, faulty confor- 

 mation of the limbs and irregularity in the action of the joints. 

 Shoeing and the condition of the feet are also important factors. 

 Animals that have a narrow chest or pelvis interfere because the 

 legs are placed too closely together. Turning in of the knees or 

 " knock-kneed," winging in or out of the feet, or any other- 

 defective conformation of the limbs that tends to prevent the 

 animal from moving the feet in line, lead to serious interfering. 

 A wide-spreading hoof, an unbalanced condition of the foot and 

 improper fitting of the shoes are common causes for interfering 

 in horses that would otherwise move the feet in line. Debility 

 from disease and overwork may cause the animal to interfere tem- 

 porarily. An unbalanced gait and shortness of the body are the 

 common causes for injuries to the quarters. 



All degrees of injury to the part struck by the shoe or wall 

 of the foot may be noted. Horses that interfere lightly, wear 

 the hair off and produce slight abrasions of the skin on the inside 

 of the fetlock. Sometimes the skin is bruised, inflamed or 

 scarred. Injuries to the inside of the knee and quarter are the 

 most serious. Lameness, inflammation of the periosteum and 

 bony enlargement may result from ^^ speedy cutting." Deep 

 wounds in the region of the heel or quarter may occur when a 

 horse strikes tliis part with the shoe of the hindfoot in moving 

 at a high rate of speed. 



The treatment is largely preventive. Xo doubt many cases 

 of interfering could be prevented by careful training and balanc- 

 ing of the foot when the animal is growing and developing. The 

 feet of colts should be trimmed every three or four weeks. Inter- 

 fering in the hiudfeet may be stopped by noting the character 



