64 SOUNDNESS IN HORSES. 



backwards and forwards, thirty or forty yards, and 

 turned quietly, and, also, sharply, to the right-about, 

 and to the left-about. When observing him in move- 

 ment, the examiner might stand, successively, behind 

 the horse, in front of him, on the near side, and on 

 the off; taking care to be sufficiently far away from 

 the animal, so as to get a good view. The horse will, 

 naturally, put more weight, and " dwell " longer on the 

 sound limb, than on the lame one. He will, also, work 

 the joints of the former, freer than those of the latter. 

 If he be equally lame on both fore-legs, he will go 

 " short," " stiff," and " tender " ; and will have an in- 

 clination to roll his body from side to side, so as to take 

 the weight off, as much as possible, when the foot comes 

 to the ground. He will, also, show marked improvement 

 in his style of going, if he is taken on to soft ground. 



" Some horses, from bad riding or driving, acquire a 

 sort of hitch or lift in their trot " (Fercivall). 



I have extracted the following remarks from my 

 Veterinary Notes for IIorse-Ow7iers : — 



Certain obscure cases of lameness can be detected 

 only during the first few steps the animal takes on 

 quitting his stable ; for he may, subsequently, " work " 

 sound. 



If a sound horse when trotting, has his head turned 

 tow ards the man who leads him, going in a sort of " left 

 shoulder in " fashion, he may appear to be lame on the 



