78 EXAMINATION OF HORSES 
consciences of most men are extremely elastic in matters 
equine. So that a temporary and easily removable un- 
soundness has not, under such circumstances, a fair 
chance. Then again it is far less satisfactory to have 
to give either in writing or orally a qualified opinion. 
Ringbone more usually affects the hind pasterns, but 
may be found on the fore ones. Ringbone is an un- 
soundness which cannot for a moment be regarded in 
any mitigated light. You ought, however, to bear in 
mind that the asperities at fhe sides of the heads of 
the coronal bones for the insertion of thé lateral: 
ligaments may be so prominent as to mislead un- 
guarded persons into the belief that ringbone is present. 
When ringbone is present, you have a most unmistak- 
able ‘“‘ring” of bone, if not actual lameness and 
stiffness, 
Sidebones (ossified lateral cartilages) are among the 
commonest forms of ailment of heavy cart horses, but we 
seldom find them in the lighter breeds. We not unfre- 
quently find the lateral cartilages strong but yielding, and 
when that is the case a horse with a good foot otherwise 
may be considered as sound. About nine months ago 
I passed such a horse for one of my best clients, which 
was to cost little short of three hundred pounds. These 
strong lateral cartilages are not ossified, and have no 
particular tendency that way. If you can feel them 
yield, no matter how little, they are not ossified. Very 
different, however, is it in the heavy-bodied dray horse 
in which they have a strong tendency towards ossification. 
