CHOOSING A HOESE 17 



part of the leg near the tendon or close to the knee joint are con- 

 sidered most objectionable, as they are hkely to interfere with 

 the action and cause the animal lameness. When located on 

 the side, they are less likely to cause lameness and not so objec- 

 tionable. Splints may disappear from young draft horses. 



Ring-bones. — Bony bunches on the fetlock and pastern are 

 called ring-bone. There are two forms, called high and low, 

 depending on the location. 



Side-bone. — Just at the top of the hoof, on either side, the 

 cartilages should be examined to see that they are not ossified, 

 forming side-bones. These are common on the front feet only. 



Scratches is located on the back of the pastern, and can be 

 easily detected; it often causes the horse a great deal of pain 

 and annoyance. 



Unsound hoofs. — The hoofs should be closely examined for 

 quarter cracks — cracks extending from the coronary band 

 downward ; for sand cracks — 

 cracks extending from the bot- 

 tom upward ; for seedy toe — 

 a softening of the wall at the 

 toe of the hoof ; for thrush — 

 a diseased condition of the foot 

 in the region of the frog, which 

 makes its presence known by 

 a disagreeable odor ; for quitter 

 — a running sore occurring at ^'^- 19- -First Pbize Percheron 



° ° Stallions. Owned by J. Grouch 



the top of the hoof or coronet, & gon, Lafayette, Ind. 



sometimes called "gravel"; for 



corns — bunions located in the corner of the heels, common 

 in animals with weak low heels; for laminitis or founder — 

 congestion of blood in the- region of the toe, common in heavy 

 horses ; and for navicular disease — caused by overworking 

 the tendons that pass to the navicular bone, common in 

 light and very active animals, 

 c 



