HORSES, JACKS, JENNETS, AND MULES 211 



EXAMINATION FOR UNSOUNDNESS AND FAXJLTY 

 CONFORMATION.! 



HORSES, JACKS, JENNETS, AND MULES. 



Relation of Soundness to Utility. — In consideration of domes- 

 tic animals, it is largely in the horse and mule that the 

 determination of the degree of soundness, specifically con- 

 sidered, is of practical consideration. In other animals, 

 structural development and the nature of work performed 

 does not tend to produce such conditions. In horses and 

 other draft animals, broadly speaking, an unsoundness or 

 faulty conformation is of vital concern, as the presence or 

 absence of these conditions determines or measures value 

 both in breeding and draft service. While the ratio of value 

 may differ, depending on the use of the animal and nature of 

 the unsoundness or faulty conformation, under any conditions 

 the value is depreciated, ranging from that of a slight objec- 

 tion to practical worthlessness. Determination of these con- 

 ditions involves not only a broad knowledge of the structure 

 of horses and mules whereby abnormalities may be detected 

 but also a knowledge of the resulting depreciation in value 

 for draft or breeding purposes. 



Definition and Limitations. — An unsoundness is any 

 abnormal condition which makes an animal less capable or 

 which will, during development, decrease natural usefulness. 

 An absolutely sound animal does not possess the slightest 

 deviation from the normal structure. Such animals are 

 rare, however, as slight defects are usually present in the 

 most perfect specimens, although they do not usually interfere 

 with the usefulness or market value. Soundness is relative 

 and not absolute, a horse usually being practically sound and 

 not absolutely so. 



An unsoundness should be differentiated from a blemish 

 which simply depreciates the market value of an animal 

 usually without impairing usefulness. A blemish may 



' Special credit due M. H. Reynolds, University of Minnesota. 



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