THE HORSE 29 



animal than if they were formed in adult life be- 

 cause of defective conformation. When fully 

 formed they do not, as a rule, in themselves cause 

 lameness. But if placed in such a position that 

 they are hkely to be hit by the other leg, or are 

 likely to interfere ^vith the passage of the tendons 

 and ligaments, they may become a serious evil. 

 Therefore, if a horse has a splint high up near the 

 knee where it may be struck by the other leg, or 

 far back where it may interfere Avith tendons and 

 ligaments, or on both sides of the leg, which 

 v\^ould indicate great weakness of the structures, 

 it should be rejected. 



The same may be said of curbs (Plate II. 

 Fig. 10) and spavins (Plate II. Fig. 11). Of course, 

 a horse with such is unsound ; but if it is not 

 lame, and its action is in no way interfered mth 

 by the defects, it may be good for many years' 

 w^ork, although its value as a saleable animal is 

 much reduced by their presence. 



Few horses are without a few wind-galls ; but 

 they constitute unsoundness only if they cause 

 lameness. 



Cutting, clicldng, and overreaching do not 

 come under this category, although " contraction 

 of the hoof " should be considered an unsoundness 



