692 
JAMES M’DONOUGH. 
to behind. As his change in the position of the fixed limb takes 
place the work of supporting the body is transferred from one 
part of the limb to another, so that the part subjected to the 
greatest strain can be determined by the position of the free limb 
at the time he stumbles, and as the position occupied by the free 
limb can be accounted for by the degree of stumbling, we are led 
to believe that the supporting limb occupies a vertical position 
in all cases where the animal does not fall to the ground. This 
is usually caused by an unbalanced limb when the shape of the 
hoof or the position of the shoe is such as to force the ankle to 
either side. Of course, any condition that may render the limb 
unable to perform its work with comfort will cause a horse to 
stumble. But in either case whether caused mechanically, or by 
some abnormal or diseased condition of the limb, our one object 
must be to change the weight to some other and stronger part. 
When it is caused by an unbalanced foot remember what was 
said upon the subject of interfering. If the ankle is inclined to 
the inside, increase its support in that direction by widening the 
shoe upon that side, when it will be found that the condition has 
been relieved. If not entirely corrected, and we dare not widen 
the shoe further to the inside, we will then fit it narrower upon the 
outside until the condition is entirely corrected. 
When a horse loses all control of himself and falls, I do not 
believe that it is caused by any faulty condition of the limb, which 
seems to give way at the time it first comes in contact with the 
ground, and is probably caused by the animal stepping upon a 
loose stone or into a hole. 
It is probable that 90 per cent, of all stumbling is caused by 
an unbalanced limb, for when a diseased condition is present it is 
likely to cause lameness and lame horses are not always “ stum- 
blers,” for the animal will save the affected limb while traveling 
by preventing, to some extent, the weight of the body coming 
upon it by holding his head and shoulders up when that foot 
comes upon the ground, while the head and foreparts will be al¬ 
lowed to drop when the weight comes upon the good limb. 
As many methods are employed by different people to balance 
