54 JUDGING HORSES 



the ends of these bones are surmounted with noticeable 

 knobs. If these lumps are found on both legs in exactly 

 the same place, it may be taken for granted that they are 

 natural. When the splint is located at the back of the leg 

 near the tendon or close to the knee joint, so as to inter- 

 fere with the action, it is in the worst place that it is pos- 

 sible to have it. A small splint in a position of the leg 

 where it is not likely to cause lameness is not considered 

 by most judges to be more than a blemish. The fact that 

 splints on young horses very frequently disappear in a 

 year or two is sufficient reason for overlooking this defect 

 when it is present in young animals. 



97. Ringbones. These are generally located on the 

 pastern. There are two forms of it called high and low 

 ringbone, depending on the location. Ordinarily it is situ- 

 ated at the hoof head where the foot joins the pastern and 

 it may be on any one of the four feet. Usually it can be 

 seen because of the prominence produced but the hand 

 should be passed over the part that a small form of it 

 may not escape detection. 



98. Sidebones. By pressing the thumb and the fore 

 finger around the hind quarter of the front foot this dis- 

 ease may be easily detected. It is common to the front 

 feet only. Small, hard prominences may be found on the 

 side of the pastern just above the foot in horses that have 

 them. They were originally cartilage but became ossified 

 and solid causing pain and considerable lameness especi- 

 ally when the horse having them is driven on hard roads. 



99. Quarter Cracks and Sand Cracks. The feet are sub- 

 ject to many forms of unsoundness and among the most 

 prevalent are sand cracks and quarter cracks. In very 

 sandy districts during the hot days of summer when horses 

 are driven considerable the hoof becomes so heated that it 

 cracks and in time results in a very troublesome disorder. 

 Usually this defect originates from weak feet. Quarter 

 cracks are very similar to sand cracks excepting that they 

 are seen on the quarters of the hoof. They extend from 



