576 THE COMPLETE GRAZIER. BOOK VI 



Bog spavins, although frequently of large dimensions, are often 

 caused to disperse, but bone spavins once developed remain permanent 

 and unmovable. 



Causes. Like ringbone and sidebone, spavins are also much in- 

 fluenced in their origin by hereditary predisposition (page 410), and also 

 by conformation of the limbs. Horses with small weak hocks, especially 

 if associated with short quarters and upright pasterns, appear to suffer 

 most, although spavins are sometimes found in the best looking and 

 most perfectly constructed joints. Sprain to the ligaments, and jar or 

 concussion to the bones, such as occur in jumping, rearing, kicking, 

 and travelling through deep ground, are the most fruitful causes of the 

 disease, and their potency for mischief is greater in the young than 

 in the aged. Adult horses resist the force of violence much more 

 effectually than young undeveloped colts, hence it is more especi- 

 ally during the early periods of life that these troublesome ailments 

 appear. 



Symptoms. In addition to the enlargement, which may be small 

 and difficult of recognition, or large and prominent, there is usually 

 more or less lameness. In the stable the horse stands with the leg 

 flexed in a resting position. If made to move over in the stall he does 

 so with a limp, and, when caused to trot, the defective limb is carried 

 stiffly with the hock joint unbent. The foot is made to meet the 

 ground toe first, and the heel is raised and freed from the weight of 

 the body. On this account the front part of the shoe manifests a good 

 deal of wear, and sometimes the toe of the foot is also much rubbed 

 down lay contact with the ground. Spavined horses improve in their 

 action after travelling a short distance, or, as it is expressed, "throw 

 the lameness off," but if allowed to stand for a time after exertion the 

 lameness quickly reappears and continues for a while worse than 

 before. 



Treatment. Where horses suffer from lameness behind, the hock 

 joint should be carefully examined, and, if it is found to be hot and 

 swollen, a dose of physic should be given at once, and .warm fomenta- 

 tions applied to the part. This may be continued until the heat 

 subsides and the lameness becomes less considerable, when cold water 

 bathing may be substituted for warm. Should the enlargement remain 

 at the seat of spavin, a high or wedged heel shoe should be applied to 

 the foot, and blistering may be resorted to and repeated at intervals of 

 a fortnight. This failing, firing either by "puncture" or "lining" 

 may be called in aid. Some prefer the introduction of a couple of 

 setons over the enlargement, which has the advantage of causing little 

 or no disfigurement. In all spavin cases, plenty of time should be 

 allowed after the disappearance of the lameness before work is resumed, 

 or a return of the mischief is most likely to result. 



SPLINT. Splints are small bony outgrowths usually situated on the 

 inner side of the cannon bone, between the knee and the fetlock joint. 

 They are also seen on the outer side. Very few light-bred horses are 

 free from them after reaching the age of four years. 



