64 Horses and Horsemastership, 



which a horse stands who is suffering from either of 

 these troubles ; and in many cases of lameness, arising 

 from other causes, the animal will stand in his stall in 

 such a manner as to relieve the injured or diseased part, 

 the weight being borne on the sound limbs. But of 

 course it does not necessarily follow that if a horse is 

 observed to be resting a limb that it is the one in which 

 the trouble exists ; though where lameness is suspected, 

 or is known to be loresent, the limb which is not being 

 used to aid in the support of the body is naturally the 

 one to which attention is at once directed, and therefore 

 the first to be examined. 



Tlie horse should next be taken from his stall, and 

 any difficulty of movement while being backed out or 

 turned round should be carefully noted. \Yhen out- 

 side the stable a careful comparison should be made of 

 the parts of the suspected limb with its fellow. For 

 instance, do the hocks correspond in size and formation? 

 Is there any difference in the feet to be observed ? Does 

 he stand squarely? and so on. The hand should then 

 be passed over the legs, and anv difference in the warmth 

 of any particular part, when compared with the corres- 

 ponding part of the other limb, should be noted; for just 

 as there is '" no smoke without a fire,"" so there is no 

 abnormal heat without trouble. The horse should next 

 be led up and down at a walk, the examiner being careful 



