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toe turns out. Horses with such feet interfere with tlie heel. If but 

 one foot is so affected, the liability to interfere is less than where both 

 feet are affected, for the reason that the ankle of the perfect leg is not 

 so near to the center line. Such animals are especially liable to stum- 

 bling and to lameness from injury to the ligaments of the fetlock joints. 

 The deformity is to be overcome by such shoeing as will equalize the 

 disparity in length of walls, and by proper boots to protect the fetlocks 

 from interfering. 



INTERFERING. 



An animal is said to interfere when one foot strikes the opposite leg, 

 as it passes by, during locomotion. Tlie inner surface of the fetlock 

 joint is the part most subject to this injury, althougb, under certain 

 conditions, it may happen to any part of the ankle. It is seen more 

 often in the hind than in the fore legs. Interfering causes a bruise of 

 the skiu and deeper tissues, generally accompanied by an abrasion of 

 the surface. It may cause lameness, dangerous tripping, and thickening 

 of the injured parts. 



Causers.— Faulty conformation is the most prolific cause of interfer- 

 ing. When the bones of the leg are so united that the toe of the foot 

 turns in (pigeon-toed), or when the fetlock joints are close together 

 and the toe turns out, when the leg is so deformed that the whole foot 

 and ankle turn either in or out, interfering is almost sure to follow. It 

 may happen, also, when the feet grow too long ; from defective shoeing; 

 rough or slippery roads ; from the exhaustion of labor or sickness ; 

 swelling of the leg ; high knee action ; fast work, and because the chest 

 or hips are too narrow. 



^j/m^jfoms.— Generally, the evidences of interfering are easily de- 

 tected, for the parts are tender, swollen, and the skin broken. Buf 

 very often, especially in trotters, the flat surface of the hoof strikes the 

 fetlock without evident injury, and attention is directed to these parts 

 only by the occasional tripping and unsteady gait. In such cases proof 

 of the cause may be had by walking and trotting the animal, after first 

 painting the inside toe and quarter of the suspected foot with a thin 

 coating of chalk, charcoal, mud, or paint. 



Treatment. — When the trouble is due to deformity or faulty conforma- 

 tion it may not be possible to overcome the defect. 



In such cases, and as well in those due to exhaustion or fiitigue, the 

 fetlock or ankle boot must be used. In many instances interfering 

 may be prevented by proper shoeing. The outside heel and quarter of 

 the foot on the injured leg should be lowered sufficiently to change the 

 relative position of the fetlock joint, by bringing it further away from 

 the center plane of the body, thereby permitting the other foot to pass 

 by without striking. 



A very slight change is often sufficient to effect this result. At the 

 same time the offending foot should be shod, that the shoe may set well 



