30 EXAMINATION OF HORSES AS TO SOUNDNESS 



flinch on pressure being brought to bear near 

 the seat of injury. If the horse gives way on 

 being pressed on his back in the region of the 

 spine, and more especially across the loins, he 

 should be made to move backwards and turned 

 round sharply from side to side, when the extent 

 of the injury may be judged according as to how 

 he acquits himself If the injury be a fairly bad 

 one, the animal would not be able to move 

 backwards at all without evincing a good deal of 

 pain, and this also applies to the movement 

 round, and from one side to the other. A horse 

 that is affected like this, and, in vulgfar lanofuaofe, 

 said to have ^ kinked ' his back, is absolutely use- 

 less, although to all appearances he may trot on 

 in a forward direction all right. If he has a 

 weight behind him, and it is necessary to pull 

 up sharply whilst driving, he cannot stop the 

 vehicle ; and for riding purposes he is no good, 

 as he cannot stand any weight upon his back. 



From the back, the hand is passed over the 

 croup and on to the dock, and it is always best 

 to take hold of the dock and move it on one 

 side, lookinof beneath it to see that all is in 



