66 ESSAYS ON HORSE SUBJECTS 



tive inactivity, cannot carry on their function with 

 integrity, so we get congestion and consequent 

 stiffness and shortening of the gait. 



"Ah, but," someone explains, "this is only tem- 

 porary. If you bandage his legs, give him laxa- 

 tive food and light walking exercise for a few 

 days he will be all right again." The chances are 

 he will, but two or three days' work have been 

 lost, and if you then subject him to the same 

 course you will very likely have a repetition of 

 the condition. Yes, and it will be several weeks 

 and more likely months before he is in as good 

 condition to stand work as he was before he went 

 out. During all these weeks or months that have 

 been spent in reconditioning, the muscles, liga- 

 ments and tendons are more or less soft and con- 

 sequently susceptible to strains of varying in- 

 tensity which may necessitate lying up for treat- 

 ment. It is not only strains we have to fear, but 

 the comparative inactivity of the circulation dur- 

 ing rest renders the legs and feet subject to con- 

 gestion and inflammation at various susceptible 

 points when abruptly called into activity in doing 

 hard work. 



No doubt, by taking time and bringing a horse 

 gradually into work he can be restored to good 

 condition, but to do this there is required man- 

 agement, some expense and tantalizing delay. 



When owners are not prepared to bring their 



