36 



HINTS ON HORSES 



In a sound horse the rear outline of the 

 hind leg, exactly in profile, from point of hock 

 to fetlock should be a straight line (Fig. 20). 



A lump on the point of the hock indicates 

 a habit of kicking in the stable. A joint with 

 such a lump is called a "capped hock" {a). 



A similar lump on the elbow is termed 

 "capped elbow" (e). A lump lower down, 

 where the back tendon commences, indicates 

 curb (b), a source of weakness in jumping 

 horses. It is a result sometimes of too much 

 jumping on the part of the horse before he is 

 strong enough. 



Many Irish horses are just touched with 

 the firing-iron on the seat of curb. 



A bulge in the outline of the back tendon 

 denotes a broken-down leg, known as the 

 " bowed tendon " (c). 



The hind fetlocks are slightly higher off the 

 ground than the fore fetlocks. 



Around the fetlock, lumps are often only- 

 signs of work, and not unsoundness. These, 

 are called " wind galls " (d). 



If the fetlock itself is swollen, it is often 

 described as "puffy," and this may indicate 

 unsoundness. 



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