THE HORSE Y7 



Synovial Enlargements 

 (See Fig. 26.) Horses may have a variety of 

 more or less soft enlargements in the region of 

 the hock or hoof, due to an effusion of the joint 

 oil or synovia. Xormally the fluid is kept in its 

 place by taut membranes ; but sometimes owing 

 to overwork when young, however, or to actual 

 weakness of the binding tissue, the synovial sacs 

 may bulge out in certain places where they are 

 unsupported by ligaments, and cause wind-galls 

 (these more commonly on the fetlocks than on the 

 hocks), bog spavin, or thoroughpin. This class of 

 derangement does not usually cause lameness or 

 incapacitate a horse from work ; it is merely un- 

 sightly. Therefore a mature horse, with a soft, 

 cool swelling which is situated on the inner front 

 of the hock, need not be refused on this score. 

 Bad bog spavin is often accompanied by thorough- 

 pin, which is a similar distention situated just 

 above the point of the hock and in front of the 

 tendon. 



Capped Hocks 

 (See Fig. 26.) Capped hocks are common and 

 unsightly, and lower the value of a horse ; but 

 they are of no disadvantage from a practical point 



