6 DETECTION OF LAMENESS. 



other, and raises or depresses his head more than usual. If the 

 horse shows irregularity of gait or head movement, the observer 

 raay conclude the abnormal action is due to an attempt to relieve 

 the lame leg of weight. Allowance must be made for the effect of 

 " cross lameness," and the period of the step (support, suspension, 

 or both) at which the lameness is manifested should be discovered. 



If a horse is lame on both fore or both hind legs, he will go short 

 and stiff, and will try to take weight off the infirm pair of limbs by 

 keeping his head high or low, according as he is lame in front or 

 behind. He should be taken on to soft ground and slowly trotted. 

 If a marked amendment in the gait is then obsen'ed, this may be 

 regarded as confirming any suspicions. The best time to note lame- 

 ness in front is when the horse is being turned ; for the turn of 

 the led horse will be principally on the forehand, upon which there 

 will consequently be an increased amount of weight thrown at that 

 moment. 



When the defective gait is characterised more by shortness of 

 step and want of freedom in placing the feet on the ground, than 

 by irregularity in the series of steps, it is safe to conclude that 

 both fore, both hind or all four legs are unsound. Irregularity of 

 gait will be particularly accentuated at the trot, if the animal is 

 lame in a fore leg and in its opposite hind leg, supposing that the 

 other two legs are free from pain and inability. 



Some veterinary authorities advise a person trying to find out if 

 a horse is lame behind to take a rear view of the croup, in order 

 to see if the animal " hitches up " one quarter (that of the unsound 

 side) more than the other, in the endeavour to keep weight off the 

 painful limb. It may be suggested, however, that the horse 

 " hitches up " the quarter in a manner sufficiently marked to 

 attract attention only when he is unquestionably lame. In doubt- 

 ful cases, try and detect (from behind and at both sides) if, when 

 trotting, he dwells more on one hind foot than on its fellow (the 

 unsound one) ; if he raises it higher off the ground ; and par- 

 ticularly, if he drags one toe (that of the unsound side). The 

 dragging of the toe, if the horse has been at work, will generally 

 be accompanied by wear at that part (Fig. 1). 



When the horse has trotted past about thirty yards, he should be 

 turned, somewhat sharply, to the " right about " (for instance), and 

 the person who is examining him should note the manner in which 

 he turns, so as to be able to compare it with the way he goes to 

 the '■■ left about " the next time he turns. In this second trot past, 

 the observer shojld try to detect if there be any difference in the 

 action of the horse, as viewed from the off side, from that which 

 it presented when regarded from the near. If, after two or three 

 trots past, there be any doubt remaining, perhaps the best way to 



