INTEKFERING. 373 



Groohedfoot is that condition in which one side of the wall is higher 

 than the other. If the inside wall is the higher, the ankle is thrown 

 outward, so that the fetlock joints are abnormally wide apart and the 

 toes close together. Animals with this deformity are " pigeon-toed," 

 and are prone to interfere, the inside toe striking the opposite fetlock. 

 If but one foot is affected, the liability to interfere is still greater, for 

 the reason that the fetlock of the perfect leg is more near the center 

 plane. 



When the outside heel is the higher the ankle is thrown in and the 

 toe turns out. Horses with such feet interfere with the heel. If but 

 one foot is so affected, the liability to interfere is less than where both 

 feet are affected, for the reason that the ankle of the perfect leg is 

 not so near to the center plane. Such animals are especially liable to 

 stumbling and to lameness from injury to the ligaments of the fetlock 

 joints. The deformity is to be overcome by such shoeing as will 

 equalize the disparity in length of walls, and by proper boots to 

 protect the fetlocks from interfering. 



INTERFERING. 



An animal is said to interfere when one foot strikes the opposite 

 leg, as it passes by, during locomotion. The inner surface of the 

 fetlock joint is the part most subject to this injury, although, under 

 certain conditions, it may happen to any part of the ankle. It is 

 seen more often in the hind than in the fore legs. Interfering causes 

 a bruise of the skin and deeper tissues, generally accompanied by an 

 abrasion of the surface. It may cause lameness, dangerous tripping, 

 and thickening of the injured parts. (See also page 362.) 



Causes. — Faulty conformation is the most prolific cause of inter- 

 fering. When the bones of the leg are so united that the toe of the 

 foot turns in (pigeon-toed), or when the fetlock joints are close 

 together and the toe turns out, when the leg is so deformed that the 

 whole foot and ankle turn either in or out, interfering is almost sure 

 to follow. It may happen, also, when the feet grow too long, from 

 defective shoeing, rough or slijppery roads, from the exhaustion of 

 labor or sickness, swelling of the leg, high knee action, fast work, 

 and because the chest or hips are too narrow. 



Symptoms. — Generally, the evidences of interfering are easily 

 detected, for the parts are tender, swollen, and the skin broken. But 

 very often, especially in trotters, the flat surface of the hoof strikes 

 the fetlock without evident injurj^, and attention is directed to these 

 parts only by the occasional tripping and unsteady gait. In such 

 cases proof of the cause may be had by walking and trotting the 

 animal, after first painting the inside toe and quarter of the suspected 

 foot with a thin coating of chalk, charcoal, mud, or paint. 



