26 
BULLETIN 487, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
ESTIMATING MATTERS OF UNSOUNDNESS. 
Sound horses should be selected for practice judging until the 
students have become well acquainted with the score card and have 
developed fairly good ideals. A sound horse is one which has no 
imperfection of so serious a nature as to interfere with its usefulness. 
Anything, such as a wire cut, which mars the appearance of a horse 
without detracting from its usefulness is known as a blemish. 
The matter of detecting unsoundness is very important in judging 
horses, as many forms of unsoundness not only unfit a horse for hard 
work but also unfit it for breeding purposes, as the unsoundness may 
be transmitted to the offspring. It is a question, however, as to 
just how far the high-school student may enter into this study. A 
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knowledge of many of the troubles which detract from the value of 
horses is based upon principles of veterinary science not commonly 
taught in the high school. Only the more common and important 
defects and diseases are listed below under the part affected. (Fig. 
16.) The extent to which the class will consider matters of un- 
soundness and disease should depend upon the training of the teacher 
and the preparation of the students. An effort should also be made 
to meet local conditions and needs. 
Eyes. — The student should gain assurance that the horse is not 
blind. Blindness may frequently be discovered by placing the hand 
gently in front of the eye, and moving it gently directly away from 
