ANATOMY, UNSOUNDNESS, AND AGE OF A HORSE 45 



Fig. 26. — Collak Boil 



for broken crest, particularly in stallions, and for 



"braided in" mane, as well as sores and skin disease. 

 Fistula. — Exceeding- tenderness at the withers may in- 



dicjate that the horse has 



fistulas, though at the time 



there may be no external 



signs. (Fig. 25.) 



Fibroid tumors. — These 



occur at the top of the 



withers and appear as hard 



calluses. 



Sweenied shoulder. — 



This is a wasting away of 



the muscles on the outside 



of the shoulder blade. It 



can be readily detected, as 



the shoulder appears flat and 



the blade bare of muscle. 



Collar boils. — Examine the shoulders closely for collar 

 boils, galls, and the like. (Fig. 26.) 

 Capped elbow. — This consists of 

 a tumor or boil on the elbow joint 

 produced by the shoe while the horse 

 is lying down. Such sores are often 

 called "shoe boils." 



Unsound knee. — The knee should 

 be examined for bony enlargements, 

 pufifs, scars, high splints, capped 

 knee, "buck knee" — ^bent forward— 

 "calf knee" — bent backward — and 

 the like. Scars on the front indicate 

 that the horse stumbles. (Fig. 27.) 



Splints. — These are abnormal bony 

 growths formed at the sides of the 



cannon bones. When located on the back part of the leg, 



near the tendon, or close to the knee or fetlock joint, they 



are considered most objectionable, as they are likely to 



no. 27. — Buck Knees 



