38-4 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 



is easily concealed, particularly in high-spirited horses, by the 

 stimulus of the whip and spur, and supporting the head with 

 the bridle. To ascertain, therefore, whether a horse be lame or 

 not, he should not be ridden, but a pei'son should be made to 

 run before him, holding the end of the bridle, that the head 

 may receive no support from it ; the slightest lameness will then 

 be readily perceived, particularly if the trial be made on rough 

 ground, and on a moderate declivity. 



Should it appear that the horse is perfectly free from lame- 

 ness, the feet and legs are to be carefully inspected, beginning 

 with the former, which should be first viewed in front, as the 

 horse stands, to observe if there be any difference in the form 

 or size of the hoofs. If the feet are very small, and particulai'ly 

 if one foot appears smaller than the other, it affords reasonable 

 cause for suspicion that there is some serious defect ; the bottom 

 of the foot is then to be examined ; and, if the heels are much 

 contracted, the frog imperfect, and matter issuing from its cleft 

 or division, it is probable that the horse will soon become lame. 

 I would not advise that a horse be rejected merely because the 

 feet have become rather narrow at the heels, and smaller than 

 they were originally. If no difference can be perceived in the 

 size of the feet, if the frogs appear sound, and free from 

 thrushes, and particularly if, at the same time, the horse step 

 boldly and firmly when trotted on rough ground, and down a 

 hill, I think he may be safely pux'chased, if free from all other 

 defects. The next point to be attended to is the form of the 

 sole, or bottom of the foot, which is, in its natural state, rather 

 hollow, or concave : we sometimes, however, find it quite flat, or 

 even convex ; in either case, it is proportionally thin, and unfit 

 for the oflfice it seems to be designed for, that is, to protect the 

 sensible or fleshy sole which it covers. The flat sole, however, 

 is by no means so serious a defect as the convex, and, if the 

 horse is carefully shod, seldom occasions lameness ; but, when 

 the sole is in any degree convex, or projecting, it is extremely 

 thin, and incapable of bearing much pressure. A horse with 

 this defect will sometimes step firmly when the sole is protected 

 by a wide, hollow shoe ; but he is constantly liable to become 

 lame by gravel getting under the shoe. We generally find, in 

 this kind of foot, that the front of the hoof, or wall, has lost its 

 natural form, having become flatter ; it is also thinner, and more 

 brittle, than it is naturally ; so that it is difficult to nail on a 

 shoe securely without wounding or prichmg the foot, as it is 

 termed. This defect, therefore, is of a serious nature, and con- 

 stitutes unsoundness.* 



* In examining the fore feet we should observe attentively whether there 

 be any corns. We can sometimes discover this without taking oil the shoes, 



