LAMENESS. 



101 



down motion. Let the horse have the full length 

 of the rein to himseif, for his head is fixed, when 

 the groom takes what he calls a short hold. 

 The horse's action should at this time be attend- 

 ed to, for if he be tender on both forefeet, it is 

 much less likely to be observed, than if only one 

 were affected. A groggy horse has passed often 

 enough for " warranted sound," when his action 

 would, a priori^ have informed an experienced 

 horseman of his unsound condition. The groggy 

 horse shuffles his feet before him as if the whole 

 leg were stiff; he goes very near the ground, 

 and treads so lightly, that he reminds one of a 

 " cat on a hot girdle." A horse with such action, 

 is called by stablemen a " daisy cutter." 



Lameness, however trifling, or from whatever 

 cause, is an unsoundness : and, I suppose, no one 

 (excepting of course our small, yet gentlemanly 

 dealer,) would buy a lame horse, without know- 

 ing the cause and probable termination of the 

 lameness. 



Founder is a name given to an inflammation of 

 the foot, which frequently leaves bad effects be- 

 hind it, without their immediately showing them- 

 selves in an altered state of the hoof. In many 



