Examination of a Horse for Soundness. 277 



tening in the back line of the rump, a view of the back- 

 line of the hock can be got at that time, then with a 

 word to the horse walk up, seize the tail and lift it, not- 

 ing the amount of resistance offered, whether the anus is 

 tight, whether any warts, etc., are present; the end of 

 the bone might be looked at to determine whether re- 

 cently docked or not; the examination of the hind leg 

 may then be proceeded with. Standing with one's back 

 to the animal's head and to one side of the. limb, with 

 the right hand run down the back line of the leg looking 

 out for thoroughpins, curbs, grease, laceration of Ihe 

 tendons, splints, windgalls and ringbones. The hind 

 foot may be lifted if desired to examine for thrush; fac- 

 ing about the left hand runs down the leg from the stifle 

 noting its condition, then down over the hock feeling for 

 bog spavins, jacks (bone spavin), down the cannon to 

 the fetlock for interfering scars, then to the foot. Going 

 to the front of the horse, the near side is gone over in a 

 similar manner, no sitting down by the examiner can be 

 tolerated. The manual work being done, back the horse 

 several paces and note the way he lifts his hind legs for 

 symptoms of stringhalt, also turn him around short a few 

 times; that done, go ahead of the horse and stand aJittle 

 in front of and to each side of the shoulders, and com- 

 pare the hocks. The examination may then be consid- 

 ered fairly complete. 



