STUMBLING. 
G93 
knee just as the animal stumbles. This is caused by the presence 
of some condition, either pathological or mechanical, that ren¬ 
ders the limb unable to support the body weight with comfort, 
and as a result it yields to the pressure and permits the body to 
drop to the extent of allowing the toe of the opposite limb to 
strike the ground when being carried forward. The consequence 
will depend upon the position of the free limb at the time the sup¬ 
porting limb g*ave way. Should the free limb occupy a position 
just anterior of the supporting limb, the animal will make a quick 
move and get it forward in time to catch and support the weight 
of the body. We call this a “ miss step ” or slight stumble, and 
a little dirt may be found upon the toe of the shoe. Should the 
free limb occupy a position in a line with, or slightly behind the 
fixed limb, a portion of the front part of the hoof will be forced 
against the ground and the animal’s efforts to regain his feet will 
be unsuccessful to the extent of allowing one or both knees to 
become injured, and we call this a “ stumbler.” Should the sup¬ 
porting limb give away at a time when the free limb was about 
to be extended, the position it now occupies causes that part of the 
limb from the ankle down to be forced against the ground, mak¬ 
ing a mark, extending the entire- length of the toe, also injuring 
the coronet and ankle joint. If we closely examine those in¬ 
juries, we will often find they were caused by the foot having 
been forced in a backward direction or just the opposite to a con¬ 
dition that would be produced if caused by the animal pulling the 
limb forward. This animal will be seen to plunge and while 
falling make several efforts to free the limb. He usually goes 
down by plunging forward, and i-f the driver pulls hard upon the 
“ lines ” in an effort to hold him up he may prevent the animal 
from extending his neck and cause him to strike upon his face or 
even the top of his head. 
When the free limb reaches the ground and becomes the sup¬ 
porting limb, its direction is oblique from above to below, and 
from behind to before. During the extension of the free limb 
the body is moving forward upon the supporting limb, which 
moves first to a vertical, then to an oblique position, from before 
