56 JUDGING HORSES 



Thoroughpin is located between the tendon of the hind leg 

 and the bone and appears just above the hoek. It consists 

 of a soft swelling that may be pushed from side to side. 



104. Curb. Curb, which occurs just below the hock 

 and to the rear is a thickening of the ligaments in that 

 region. By looking at the leg from the side it may be easily 

 noticed as it is a variation from the straight line which 

 should run from the point of the hock down towards the end 

 of the cannon. 



105. Bone Spavin. The most common trouble of the 

 hocks, and the worst of all, is bone spavin. To detect this, 

 it is best to stand in front of the horse and take a position so 

 that in looking back the inner outline of the hind leg may be 

 seen very clearly. This is a bone deposit which nature has 

 thrown out to strengthen an otherwise weak joint and when 

 it has developed it ties the joint so that it interferes with the 

 proper action of the horse. The hind leg instead of coming 

 down on the heel as it should in a sound limb, is thrown 

 forward so that the toe reaches the ground first and the stride 

 is unnaturally shortened, and lameness frequently results. 

 Occult spavin, that is where the deposit is not apparent to 

 the eye but hidden in the joints, is very hard to determine; 

 the usual method of detection is to lift the suspected leg and 

 then starting the horse quickly observe the result when the 

 foot reaches the ground. Undue shrinkage indicates the 

 presence of spavin in this form. 



106. Bog Spavin. Bog spavin is usually associated with 

 thoroughpin and it is very similar to the latter; differing 

 from it only in location. In the natural depression that 

 occurs on the inner and front part of the hock, the oil from 

 the joint accumulates and forms a soft swelling commonly 

 known as bog spavin. The term blood spavin is sometimes 

 applied to the enlargement of the vein that passes across the 

 hock from in front. This, however, is not an unsoundness. 



