LAMENESS IN HORSES

Manawatu Times, Volume LII, Issue 3538, 21 February 1927, Page 11

LAMENESS IN HORSES

If a horse places one fore foot in front of the other when standing at rest, it indicates that something is wrong with the foot so ■ advanced, otherwise the horse would not rest it. The pointing of elbow lameless is characteristic, the fore arm being extended, the' knee bent, and the foot perhaps level with or behind its fellow. ■ ' In severe shoulder lameness the pointing; if it can be called such, is backward, the - limb relaxed, knee bent, and the foot posterior to its fellow; sometimes the toe only touches the ground; the limb is semipendulous consequent upon the inability of,,tho muscles, to elevate and bring it forward without pain. In obscure case of laraoless wo may suspect bone disease, such as commencing ringbone, as the cause if the 1 horse stands level when at rest, butf trots very'lame oh hard ground. Laraeless improves with exercise except as a rule in cases of splints, sore shins, corns, 'fever in the feet, and sprains. In shod horses, If the heel of a fore shoe is worn most and the animal is lame, we can suspect ringbone,. If the lameness Is behind and the toe becomes worn, we shall generally find It is due to a sprained hock joint V