Lameness. 193 



HOW TO DETECT LAMENESS. 



The horse is to be examined: first, at rest; second, in 

 motion. 



A lame horse standing at rest will generally favor the 

 unsound limb by lifting it frequently, or by pointing it, 

 that is, by extending it in advance of its fellow. If both 

 feet are lame he will have a habit of lifting first one, 

 then the other. In elbow lameness, the fore arm is ex- 

 tended, the knee bent, and the foot on a level with, or 

 behind, its fellow. In severe shoulder lameness, the point- 

 ing is backward, the knee bent, and the foot behind its 

 fellow, sometimes the toe only touching the ground. When 

 the lameness is in a hind limb, the horse stands with it 

 "knuckling over'^ at the fetlock, or with the foot altogether 

 off the ground. If the lame leg is in advance of the 

 sound one, this indicates that the disease is in, or below, 

 the hock. 



When both the fore feet are lame, the hind ones are 

 advanced beneath the bodv, so as to receive as much of the 

 weight as possible, while the front feet are lifted alternately. 

 When both hind feet are lamed, the fore feet are planted 

 beneath the chest, and close to the centre line, while the 

 body is pushed forward, and the head hung down, so as 

 to take as much weight as jjossible off of the hind feet. 



Having noted carefully how the horse stands at rest, 

 the next procedure is to examine the suspected limb. If 

 there is unnatural heat, tenderness on pressure, or a swelling 

 in any part of it, the suspicion of lameness is at once verified. 

 But nothing of this kind may be obvious, even in cases of 

 incurable lameness, so the horse should next be examined 

 in motion. 



It is far from easy to recognize all varieties of lameness 

 in a horse in motion; and unscrupulous dealers know many 

 tricks to conceal it. Thus, if one fore foot is lame, they 



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