ANATOMY, UNSOUNDNESS, AND AGE OF A HORSE 43 



given. The term "unsound," as used by horse dealers, is 

 often loosely applied. It may mean anything from a 

 slight injury to a defect so serious as to render the horse 

 worthless. The best usage warrants dividing these im- 

 perfections into two classes — blemishes and unsoundness. 

 Likewise the term "fault" is applied to a variety of con- 

 ditions. It may signify anything from a mere bad habit 

 to a vice that renders the animal worthless. Usage war- 

 rants dividing these imperfections into two classes — 

 whims and vice. 



A blemish. — This may be defined as an imperfection 

 that depreciates the value of a horse without interfering 

 with his usefulness — as a wire cut, car bruise, and the 

 like — which mar the appearance of the horse but do not 

 limit his functions. 



An unsoundness. — This may be defined as an imper- 

 fection of so serious a nature as to interfere with the use- 

 fulness of the horse, as ringbone, sidebone, splints and 

 the like. 



A whim. — This may be defined as a minor moral im- 

 perfection, as tongue lolling, tossing the head, tearing 

 blankets, pawing, and the like. 



A vice. — This may be defined as a more serious moral 

 imperfection, as balking, kicking, running away, and the 

 like. 



Locating unsoundness. — The ability to locate unsound- 

 ness depends largely on practice ; although some imper- 

 fections, principally the faults, cannot be detected by an 

 ordinary examination, and it is only after becoming famil- 

 iar with the horse that these will be observed. Hence, 

 to detect faults the reader is referred to Chapter 37, Whims 

 and Vices of the Horse (p. 385). In locating unsoundness 

 it is well to follow a regular order beginning with the 

 head. 



Poll evil. — This Is an enlargement of the poll at the top 

 of the head, containing or discharging pus. It is a serious 



