Examining « Horse 69 
examined for corns, the cleft in the frog for thrush, 
and the sole for bulging. 
After finishing the fore leg, the examiner should go 
carefully over the horse’s side and belly, looking for 
any tumors, sores, hernia or ruptures. In the male, 
the penis and sheath should be examined for tumors or 
disease. It should be noted whether the hair on the 
belly in front of the sheath is normal 1n appearance, as 
some horses do not protrude the penis in passing urine 
and the skin in front of the sheath is irritated so that the 
hair is shed. The scrotum in males should always be 
examined for tumors, and geldings must be scrutinized 
to be sure they are not ridglings. In examining the 
hind legs of a strange horse, it is always well to take 
precautions to prevent being kicked, by having an 
assistant hold up one fore foot. 
The muscles of the hip should be examined for sears, 
the stifle joint for any enlargement or soreness that 
would indicate stifle. A thorough examination should 
be made of the hock joint, because of the number and 
importance of the defects that may occur in this region. 
The back of the hock joint should be examined for 
capped hock, curb and scars which may indicate that 
the animal is a kicker. Just in front of the point of 
the hock, look for thorough- pin. The hock joint 
proper is to be examined for spavin, both bone spavin 
and bog spavin, also for any enlargements or any ir- 
regularities of movement. Below the hock, look for 
wind-puffs, ring-bones, scratches and diseases of the 
foot. After completing the examination of one side, go 
over the opposite side with equal care. 
