FAULTY CONFORMATION 155 



The body -weight is transferred from the heels to the 

 anterior parts of the foot, and the shoe shows undue signs 

 of wear at the toe. 



Causes. — Upright hoof is undoubtedly hereditary, and is 

 even seen as a natural conformation in the feet of asses 

 and mules. When hereditary in the horse, however, it is 

 certainly a defect, and is associated commonly with an 

 upright limb, and a short, upright pastern (see Fig. 83). 



Among other causes, we may enumerate sprains or 

 wounds of the flexor tendons, or any disease of the limbs 

 for a long time preventing extension of the fetlock-joint, 

 such as sprains or injuries of the posterior ligaments of the 

 limb, splints or ringbones so placed as to interfere with the 

 movements of the flexor tendons, or, in the hind-limb, 

 spavin, keeping for some months the fetlock in a state of 

 flexion. In the very young animal the condition may be 

 induced by an improper paring of the foot — cutting away 

 too much at the toe, and allowing the heels to remain. 



Treatment. — When the condition is congenital, no treat- 

 ment at all is indicated. It might, in fact, be said that 

 interference would tend rather to minimize than enhance 

 the animal's usefulness ; for, in this case, the club-shaped 

 feet are in all probability due to faulty conformation above. 

 In other words, the upright hoof is in this instance but a 

 natural result of the animal's build, with which useful 

 interference is impossible. 



Where the upright hoof is a consequence of excessive 

 paring of the toe, or insufficient removal of the heels, the 

 condition may be remedied by directing attention to those 

 particulars, and preventing their continuance. At the same 

 time, a greater obliquity of the limb axis may be given by 

 the use of a suitable shoe. The shoe indicated is a short 

 one, with thin heels and a thick toe. In some cases the 

 abnormality may be remedied by the use of a tip. What- 

 ever method is adopted, care must be taken not to attempt 

 too positive a change in the direction of the limb at one 

 operation. The process must be gradual. 



In cases where the abnormality has been brought about 



