26 SOUNDNESS IN HORSES. 



Spavin, hone. — The fact that it is impossible to draw a 

 sharp line of demarcation between a " coarse hock " and 

 one with a spavin, renders the subject of spavin a fertile 

 cause of dispute. Following the opinion held by such 

 eminent authorities as Dick, Percivall, Williams, and 

 Barlow, among others, I think I may safely say that, if 

 both hocks are alike ; the action perfect ; and the power 

 of bending the joints unimpaired, a horse with coarse 

 hocks should be passed as sound. " Amongst the variety 

 of hocks that a veterinary surgeon examines, what is 

 termed a ' coarse hock ' is often seen. By this term is 

 meant a hock with well-developed cuneiform bones, 

 giving a prominence to the articulation, very much 

 resembling spavin; and it is generally borne out by 

 experience that such hocks are superior to those of a 

 finer description, standing more wear and tear, and 

 remaining sound. It was laid down as a rule by the late 

 Mr. Barlow, that if both hocks were alike, and the action 

 good, joints coarsely formed should not be condemned as 

 unsound, more particularly if the enlargements were 

 situated towards their posterior aspect " ( Williams). I may 

 mention that spavin lameness is far more intractable in 

 old horses, than in young ones. A bone spavin ( Watson v. 

 Denton*) is always an unsoundness ; although the fact of 

 its existence may, very naturally, be a subject of dispute. 



Sprain of the hach tendons, suspensorij ligament, or check 

 * Carrington and Payne's Reports, vol. 7, p. 85. 



