708 SOUNDNESS IN HOESES. 



often hereditary. Although acquired characteristics (p. 21) are not 

 inherited, any form of unsoundness to which an animal might have 

 been predisposed, on account of faulty conformation, should be looked 

 upon in stud animals with considerable suspicion : for instance, in 

 the case of a strained back tendon or suspensory ligament, if the 

 horse was "light below the knee." This, however, would be a 

 question which could be decided only after a personal inspection. 

 The following list has special reference to stud animals. 

 Amaurosis (p. 348). 



Bent f ore-leg s. — Under this term we may include the condition 

 shown by some horses, of " standing over " at the knees, which is in 

 many cases due to hereditary predisposition. The majority of breeders 

 are rightly averse from using for stud purposes, animals which show 

 this peculiaiit}^ At the same time, it is quite certain that work or 

 injury {e.g. falls) may induce it, and that it may also be caused by 

 neglect in the management of the feet. However brought on, it 

 ought to be looked upon as a grave defect, in the present connection. 



Bog-spavin (p. 325). — If the hocks are well formed, this affection 

 (as well as thoroughpin), when it exists to but a slight degree, may be 

 overlooked. Its presence, however, in aged animals, unless when 

 caused by some accidental sprain, is as a rule, indicative of faulty con- 

 formation of the part. Especially among heavy cart-horses, we find 

 the influence of hereditary predisposition strongly marked in the case 

 of bog-spavins and thoroughpins, the possession of either of which 

 affections, if they were well developed, should be sufficient cause for 

 the immediate rejection of an animal for breeding. Heavy entires, 

 even with the best of hocks, are often apt to get them puffy, on 

 account of straining them when covering. 



Bone-spavin (p. 254). 



Broken wind (p. 377). 



Cataract (p. 343). 



Contraction of the foot (p. 704). — The fact of one foot being 

 smaller than its fellow, especially in the fore limb, and if the difference 

 of size be well marked, would be sufficient cause for immediate 

 rejection of an animal for stud purj)Oses. It goes without saying, that 

 any congenital deformity of the foot should be regarded in the same 

 light. 



Cttrb (p. 52). — The possession of a curb would always be of serious 

 detriment to the value of a stud animal, and especially for breeding 

 hunters, steeple-chasers, and chargers. It might, however, be over- 

 looked in a race-horse of exceptional speed and stamina, like, for 

 instance, St. Simon, who is faulty in this respect ; for, considering the 

 early stage at which race-horses are put to work, we ought to be more 



