788 
F. C. GRENSIDE. 
ACTION 
By F. C. Grenside, V. S., New York City. 
A Paper read before the January Meeting of the Veterinary Medical Association of 
New York County. 
The veterinarian, without assuming more responsibility 
than is usually imposed upon him, in the examination of a 
horse for soundness for a client, is not called upon to express 
an opinion as to the character of his action, any more than he 
is to draw attention to defects of conformation. He is, how¬ 
ever, frequently requested to give an opinion as to the practical 
importance of some abnormal condition of limb, eye or wind m 
influencing a horse’s usefulness for the purpose for which he is 
required. 
He may have a seam in a foot, a splint, or some such more 
serious conditions, as a spavin or ringbone, none of which cause 
lameness at the time, and the purchaser does not object to their 
presence, providing they are not likely to cause lameness ; so 
the veterinarian’s advice is sought. Certainly such conditions 
constitute predisposing causes of lameness, but no more so in 
some instances than defective action. 
The character of the action is a very important factor in de¬ 
termining the amount of “ wear and tear ” a horse will stand 
without showing ill effects ; so the study of action should not 
be ignored by the veterinarian, as he is sometimes called upon 
as an adviser to give an opinion as to the suitability and desira¬ 
bility of a horse for some purpose outside of the question of 
soundness. The acquisition of a knowledge of action, or, in 
other words, to become a good judge of action, is not such an 
easy matter as might be imagined. There are many that have 
a good eye for a horse, arfd in fact are in a measure good judges, 
who cannot intelligently criticise a horse’s action from different 
standpoints. 
There are many thai are taken with flashy action. Flashi¬ 
ness of action, as a rule, enhances the market value of a horse 
that possesses it, but it is very apt to be associated with greater de- 
