54 ADVICE TO BUYERS. 



which lies immediately before it, if the tendon feel clean 

 and free from swelling, and if the leg, on a side view, ap- 

 pear flat, clean and sinewy, as it is termed, it may be con- 

 sidered as a sound, well-formed leg. But if the leg, on a 

 side view, appears rather round than flat, or rather bent 

 and inclined inwards, if the sinew and ligament cannot be 

 distinctly felt, and particularly if one leg is larger than the 

 other, it may be concluded that the part has sustained 

 some injury, and that there is a probability of the horse 

 becoming lame when put to any hard work. If any mark 

 be found on the knees, it is the safest plan to infer that it 

 was occasioned by falling, through some weakness of the 

 joint, though the seller should affirm that it happened in 

 going over a bar, stepping on or off the boat, or by striking 

 it against the manger. 



Few horses are entirely free from splints they need not, 

 therefore, be regarded, unless of a large size immediately 

 below the knee, or so near the back sinew or suspensory 

 ligament as to interfere with their action, or unless they 

 are tender on being pressed. 



In examining the hind-legs, begin with the hock, and if 

 there be any spavin it may be seen most readily by look- 

 ing between the hocks, or, still better, by looking between 

 the fore-legs, rather inclining to one side. The bones, 

 which form the projection on the inside of the hock, are in 

 some horses rather larger than in others ; this should not 

 be mistaken for bone-spavin, but there is no great difficul- 

 ty in making the distinction, for, should both hocks be 

 affected with spavin, it rarely happens that they are ex- 

 actly alike, or of the same size ; and when one hock only 

 is affected, the difference is sufficiently manifest to point 

 out the disease. A side view of the hocks should next be 

 taken, and if there be a curb it will be readily perceived. 



