6 



DETECTION OF LAMENESS. 



keeping his head high or low, according as he is lame in front or 

 behind. We should then take him on to soft ground, and have him 

 slowly trotted on it. If a marked amendment in the gait is then 

 observed, we may regard our suspicions as confirmed. The best 

 time to note lameness in front is when the horse is being turned ; 

 for the turn of the led horse will be principally on the forehand, 

 upon which there will consequently be an increased amount of 

 weight thrown at that moment. 



When the defective gait is characterised more by shortness of 

 step and want of freedom in placing the feet on the ground, than 



Fig. I. — Wear of toe of hind foot from spavin. 



by irregularity in the series of steps, we may safely conclude that 

 both fore, both hind or all four legs are unsound. Irregularity of 

 gait will be particularly accentuated at the trot, if the animal is 

 lame in a fore leg and in its opposite hind leg, supposing that the 

 other two legs are free from pain and inability. 



Some veterinary authorities advise a person who is trying to 

 find out if a horse is lame behind, to take a rear view of the croup 

 in order to see if the animal " hitches up " one quarter ('that of 

 the unsound side) more than the other, in the endeavour to keep 

 weight off the painful limb. I venture, however, to say that the 

 horse "hitches up" the quarter in a manner sufficiently marked 

 to attract attention only when he is unquestionably lame. In 

 doubtful cases, I prefer to try and detect (from behind and at both 

 sides) if, when, trotting, he dwells more on one hind foot than on 

 its fellow (the unsound one) ; if he raises it higher off the ground ; 

 and particularly, if he drags one toe (that of the unsound side) 



