Horses and Horsemastership. 25 



without involving the joints, it is called "false ringbone." 

 Ringbone is most frequently confined to the hind 

 pasterns, and it is principally found in heavy types of 

 horses. 



If both pasterns are affected, the horse is not suitable 

 for hard work, and, personally, I would rather risk 

 buying a horse with spavins about which there was a 

 doubt than one with ringbones. 



SIDEBONE is ossification of the lateral cartilages 

 of the foot, and arises as the result of a knock or wound, 

 as well as from concussion. 



Cart horses are more frequently affected than those 

 of a lighter breed, and, indeed, the latter do not 

 frequently suffer from it : at the same time it is a 

 disease which is more detrimental to a light horse than 

 a heavy one. Sidebone usually occurs in the fore feet, 

 and it can be easily detected by pressure. 



If instead of a springy elastic feeling the lateral 

 cartilages are hard and irresponsive to the touch, there 

 is trouble. As in all osseous formations, it is rarely 

 possible to do more than endeavour to arrest the process 

 of ossification, and in the present state of veterinary 

 surgical knowledge that is an almost hopeless task. 

 The trouble is best dealt with bv an operation, which in 

 uncomplicated cases is invariably successful ; so the 

 sooner the animal receives professional attention the 

 better. 



