UNSOUNDNESS 253 



both ways ; he may show plain lameness when the diseased limb 

 is on the inside. The horse should be tried on both hard and 

 soft ground and on side hill. If the lameness is in the foot, it 

 is most marked when the animal travels on hard ground. When 

 it is in the shoulder, he is likely to travel with great difficulty 

 in deep mud or in snow, or when stepping over a wagon tongue. 



When the trouble is in front it should always be borne in 

 mind that the front foot is an especially common seat of lame- 

 ness, whereas in the hind leg, trouble is most common at the 

 hock. 



Sometimes unusual combinations are confusing. A horse lame 

 in both front or both hind limbs is short and stilty in stride, 

 carrying his feet close to the ground, and backing with dif- 

 ticulty. If in trotting two diagonal limbs are lame, the whole 

 body rises as they land and falls as the sound pair land. If two 

 limbs on the same side are lame there is a peculiar see-sawing of 

 the entire body. 



Lameness at shoulder, stifle, and hip is indicated by difficulty 

 in bringing the limb forward and there is "swinging leg lame- 

 ness. ' ' 



A horse affected with shoulder lameness often rests the lame 

 limb on the toe, with the knee flexed and the limb directly be- 

 neath the shoulder. He has a short forward stride, and a swing- 

 ing leg lameness, which is worse when he travels up hill, or in 

 mud, and often shows plainly when turned short. He has great 

 difficulty in backing, and drags the limb. 



