10 LAMENESS IN THE HORSE. 



taken out of the harness and trotted with a loose rein. 

 Colts occasionally go apparently lame, before they get used 

 to the bit ; this bridle lameness disappears when they are 

 trotted with a halter and loose rein. If no halter is handy 

 this feigned lameness can be easily recognized by watching 

 the animal from both sides, as the nodding of the head 

 corresponds with the right us well as with the left leg, thus 

 excluding lameness. Unless discretion is used in such 

 cases as just mentioned, the animal maybe pronounced lame 

 while in reality sound. 



In locating the lame leg, trot the horse with a halter on, 

 leaving a foot and one half of rope, thus allowing free play 

 to all muscles concerned in locomotion, and have him 

 trotted slowly toward the observer. If lame in one fore-leg, 

 the right one, for instance, his head will nod more or less 

 when he steps upon the left fore-leg, while the head jerks 

 up at the moment the right leg (the lame one) is placed 

 upon the ground. Hence the heail of the lame animal 

 always nods when the sound leg is planted. 



Should there be lameness in both fore-legs, the action is 

 stilty, the naturally elastic stride is wanting, the steps are 

 shortened and the feet are kept close to the ground. 

 Almost invariably the hind-legs are picked up higher than 

 normally, the shoulders appear stiff and the head is carried 

 rather high, while the lumbar region is arched. 



Lameness behind is seen by trotting the horse from the 

 observer, the croup being the essential point to be watched, 

 since it falls or drops with the sound leg and rises with the 

 lame one. 



If lame in both hind-legs, the stride is shortened and 

 awkward, the fore-legs are kept back of the vertical line and 

 are apt to be raised higher than usual, while the head is 



