CAEE AND MANAGEMENT OF ANIMALS 745 



Apart from throwing the bedding about, there are horses 

 naturally clumsy when lying down, that work through 

 or displace their bedding at prominent points like the 

 hip, but particularly the elbow point and outside of the 

 hock. 



Whenever the elbow point or outside of the hock come 

 on the ground (and these parts rest on the ground when 

 the animal is seated on his breast), injury may occur to 

 them, especially the elbow. The disease known as capped 

 elbow is always produced in this way and in no other. 

 No long-heeled shoe ever gave a horse a capped elbow, 

 in spite of what has been taught for years in this con- 

 nection ; if it were capable of doing so not a heavy horse 

 in the North of England or Scotland could escape. 



If the attitude of a horse is studied when he is sitting on 

 his breast, it will be seen that the foot which is supposed to 

 cause a capped elbow is not even near the elbow but is 

 placed under the breast. 



A capped elbow is always caused by the point of the 

 elbow coming in contact with the ground, and in no other 

 way is the injury possible; it is an injury due to want of 

 bedding, and this may be caused by carelessness of the 

 attendant, or the fault of the horse. Animals which work 

 through their bedding at night, which we have described 

 above as 'clumsy' horses, are the most liable to this 

 accident. 



The above class of horse is best bedded on sawdust or 

 moss litter, with straw on top. Bedding arranged like this 

 is much less liable to be shifted. 



Though capped hocks are caused by kicking, yet once an 

 enlargement occurs on the point of the hock it is bruised 

 every time the horse lies down. Again, if notice be taken 

 of the attitude assumed by an animal lying down, it will be 

 seen that the whole of the outside of the leg from the point 

 of the hock to the foot is in contact with the ground. If 

 the hock has been 'capped,' not only does lying down 

 aggravate it, but it absolutely prevents all hope of per- 

 manent reduction. 



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