METHOD OF EXAMIXITION. 55 



himself " to pieces '* during the night. Arrangements 

 for pulling the horse round, without getting in reach of 

 his teeth or heels, will be sufficient to put the most 

 careless observer on guard. I need hardly say, that, for 

 this important portion of the examination to be effective, 

 the horse must be perfectly tranquil and cooled down 

 from the effects of recent work, and must not have under- 

 gone the process of being " warmed up." 



Second Stage. 



We may now make the animal move over from one 

 side of his stall to the other, to see how he bends his 

 hind limbs ; for symptoms of spavin or stringhalt are often 

 best observed at this time. We must, however, guard 

 against being deceived by any exaggerated hind action, 

 due to the horse being accustomed to stand in deep straw 

 bedding. 



Third Stage. 



Get an assistant to put on the horse a plain snaffle 

 bridle ; have him turned round in his stall ; and examine 

 his eyes, nostrils, and mouth. 



Examination of the eyes.—ln order to ascertain that the 

 haw and conjunctiva (the membrane which lines the 

 eyelids and covers the eyes) are in a healthy condition, 

 we may open the eye in the following manner: After 

 having " made much " of the horse, place a hand on his 



