2 8o THROUGH STABLE AND SADDLE-ROOM. 



the splint. Young horses, whose bones are not 

 fully matured and are soft, are very liable to S2)lmt. 

 Big, heavy horses also are always more subject to 

 it than lighter horses. 



Splint may be also caused by a blow, or anything 

 which may cause inflammation. Horses whose toes 

 turn in, who are what is termed ' pigeon-toed,' are 

 apt to get them on the outer side of the leg, inas- 

 much as the weight comes more on that side than 

 on the inner, as is the case with properly formed 

 horses. The better the quality of the bone, and 

 the more matured it is, the less liable it is to 

 throw out splint. 



Speedy-cut is caused by the foot of one leg 

 striking against the other leg. It occurs under 

 the knee-joint. High-stepping horses whose action 

 is not perfectly true are liable to it. It may be 

 caused by bad shoeing, but proper shoeing will 

 prevent it. I have in my possession at the 

 present time one of the very best ponies in 

 England. When I bought her some five years 

 ago she had the marks of being very badly speedy- 

 cut. Doubtless it w r as caused by bad shoeing, as 

 her action is, though very high, as true and just 

 as it could be, and she has never once touched 

 herself since I bought her. I have always had her 

 shod with ordinary shoes, very much of the Fitz- 



