EXAMINING A HORSE FOR SOUNDNESS 341 



poll-evil), the neck vein should be examined to see if there 

 is any mark of the animal having been bled, and then each 

 of the limbs must be taken in turn, commencing with the 

 near fore-leg. It is not enough to rely upon eyesight alone, 

 the touch also must be brought into requisition, and the 

 hand rapidly passed down the front and the sinews of each 

 leg down to the coronets, feeling for any indication of 

 exostosis or thickening, when if a spHnt or ring-bone exists, 

 or there is any sign of brushing, it should be quickly 

 detected. The lateral cartileges must be felt to see whether 

 they are elastic and free from any suspicion of side-bones. 

 Each foot must be picked up, the state of the frog noticed, 

 and whether the hoof is concave or flat ; and if the bars 

 are contracted ; and also whether there are rings only on 

 the inside of the hoof, which may indicate laminitis ; or if 

 there is any sign of navicular disease. It should especially 

 be noted, if the shoes are not new ones, whether they are 

 evenly worn, or whether there is too much wear at the toes 

 or heels. The fore-shoes should be taken off, and the seat 

 of corn subjected to pressure from the smith's pincers, and 

 if the animal flinches some horn should be removed, to 

 discover if any redness exists proving the existence of 

 corns. The hocks must receive particular attention, signs 

 of curb being sought, and whether the hock betrays weak- 

 ness by being slightly cut away in front at the head of the 

 shank-bone. Thorough -pins and bog (or jack) spavins must 

 be noted ; but above all the presence of exostosis must be 

 diligently searched for, more especially at the true site 

 of spavin, the inside of the small bones of the hock. If 

 there is the least doubt a sure way of detecting spavin is to 

 raise the hind-leg as high as possible, drawing it well 

 forward at the same time, and thus flexing the hock as much 

 as possible. After holding the limb in this position for 

 a minute or more, let the leg down, and at once have the 

 animal started off at a trot, when lameness will be apparent 

 if any spavin exists. 



During the examination of the hind-legs it is prudent to 

 have the fore-leg taken up on the same side to prevent the 

 animal from kicking at the examiner; and it is not 



