HUNTERS. 27 



next place, probably the dealers might object to this, as they 

 do not like their horses' feet mutilated by village farriers. In 

 lameness from this cause, and also from navicular disease, 

 notice should be carefully taken as to the manner in which the 

 horse goes when he is pulled up, as at that time an animal may 

 often show slight lameness, but travel all right when going 

 straight. More weight is put on his legs and feet when pulling 

 up than at any other time. 



A horse lame from flat feet generally has a tendency to go 

 on his heels in front ; while in navicular disease he will dig his 

 toes into the ground. As said before, there is a good deal of 

 risk at fairs with regard to the state of the foot : " corns " and 

 " seedy toe " are common causes of lameness in hunters, hacks, 

 and all well-bred horses. Side-bones are rarely seen among 

 hunters at fairs, owing to most of the horses being young 

 (generally from 3 to 6 years old). 



Round joints, accompanied by "wind galls," are sometimes 

 seen in young horses with upright fore legs, especially in those 

 which have been used a little. However, this is a condition 

 more or less dependent on defective conformation. 



Splints are very common, very few horses being without 

 them j they seldom cause lameness, and unless they are very 

 large, or are placed in such a way that they interfere, or are 

 likely to interfere, with the action of the suspensory ligament, 

 or are liable to be struck with the opposite foot, no horse 

 should be rejected on their account. 



Thickening of the flexor tendons, and of the suspensory 

 ligament, is serious. The latter lies between the back tendons 

 and the bone, and the enlargement is generally seen on the 

 inside, about three parts of the way down from the knee to the 

 fetlock; about that point the ligament branches into two 

 portions, and it is there that nearly all the sprains take place. 

 A horse with the least enlargement there should on no account 

 be purchased. 



