KNDB, FSTIX>CK, ANKLE, AND FOOT. 1 75 



Faults of Formation. A large percentage of the horses have 

 feet which are not perfect in formation, and as a consequence of these 

 imperfections they are especially predisposed to certain injuries and 

 diseases. 



Flat Feet. This is that condition in which the sole has little or no 

 convexity. It is a peculiarity common to some breeds, especially heavy, 

 lymphatic animals raised on low, marshy soils. It is confined to the 

 fore-feet, which are generally broad, low-heeled, and with a wall less 

 upright than is seen in the perfect foot. 



In flat-foot there can be little or no elasticity in the sole, for the 

 reason that it has no arch and the weight of the animal is received 

 on the entire plantar surface as it rests on the ground instead of on 

 the wall. For these reasons such feet are particularly liable to 

 bruises of the sole, corns, pumiced sole, and excessive suppuration 

 when the process is once established. Horses with flat foot should be 

 shod with a shoe having a wide web, pressing on the walls only, while 

 the heels and frog are never to be pared. Flat-foot generally has weak 

 walls, and as a consequence the nails of the shoe are readily loosened 

 and the shoe cast. 



Clubfoot. This is applied to such feet as have the walls set nearly 

 perpendicular. When this condition is present the walls are high, 

 the fetlock joint is thrown forward, or knuckles, and the weight of the 

 animal is received on the toes. Many mules are clubfooted, especially 

 behind, where it seems to cause little or no inconvenience. Clubfoot 

 may be cured by cutting the tendons in severe cases, but as a rule spe- 

 cial shoeing is the only measure of relief that can be adopted. The toe 

 should not be pared, but the heels are to be lowered as much as possible 

 and a shoe put on with a long projecting toe piece, slightly turned up, 

 while the heels of the shoe are to be made thin. 



Crooked Foot. This is that condition in which one side of the 

 wall is higher than the other. If the inside wall is the higher, the an- 

 kle is thrown outward, so that the fetlock joints are abnormally wide 

 apart and the toes close together. Animals with this deformity are 

 ' 'pigeon-toed, ' ' and are liable to interfere, the inside toe striking the 

 opposite fetlock. If but one foot is affected, the other being perfect, 

 the liability to interfere is still greater, for the reason that the fetlock of 

 the perfect leg is more near the center plane. 



When the outside heel is the higher the ankle is thrown in and the 

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



