116 aveey's own farrier 



, ringbone. 



This is not much unlike the bone spavin in its first 

 stages, in many respects, only in its location. It first 

 appears on the side of the pasterns, and, as it increases 

 in growth, it extends forward and quite around the pas- 

 terns, or until it meets its brother on the other side, 

 forming a ring of bony or ossified substance, from which 

 it takes its name. The pastern joint is not only injured, 

 but in time this ossified substance becomes so firm, that 

 it binds the cords and ligaments so tight that the coflfin 

 and naviculare bones are affected thereby, rendering the 

 horse very lame, &c. This disease makes its appearance 

 most frequently on colts, or young horses; but older ones 

 are not always exempt. It is sometimes the result of 

 bad shoeing, by paring the heel too much and the toe 

 too little, thus throwing the weight of the horse back of 

 the centre of the foot, which is very straining to the 

 pasterns. Colts having long and yielding pasterns, are 

 more liable to have ringbones than those having shorter 

 ones, and stand upright. Where colts are confined 

 closely the first and second winter, much can be done to 

 prevent ringbone by paring the horny part of the toe off 

 occasionally, but when they are allowed to run and have 

 suflficient exercise, they wear them off themselves. When 

 there is any enlargement or swelling of the legs of young 

 colts, it may well be regarded as suspicious of ringbone, 

 for it generally results in that, and is oftener caused by 

 need of exercise than in any other way (which is the 

 fault of the owner), for this causes inflammalion and 

 swelled legs, which always precede ringbone. 



