THE SOUNDNESS OF A HORSE

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1612, 21 January 1903, Page 63

THE SOUNDNESS OF A HORSE

HOW TO TEST IT. First give the horse a quick trot or canter to see if he is lame. As soon as lie stops, put your ear to his nostrils, and detect if possible any wheezing noise. In this way his wind is tested. alien examine his nostrils and mouth to that there are no enlargements, discharges or anything unnatural. At the same time, by the assistance of a friend, if unable to do so yourself, determine the age of the animal by his teeth. Look closely into the eye to see that there is nothing wrong with the pupil or sight. If he steps high and. awkward with the fore feet when approaching you, be more careful in examining his sight. Pass ‘the hand around his ears and over the poll of his head, -watching for sores or discharges from the ear, and for poll evil, shown by a lump on the top of the neck behind the ears. Then examining one side of the horse first, commencing at the neck, running the hand down the side of the neck under the mane, watching carefully for warts, sores, etc. Then down the shoulder, watching for collar galls and tumours. After this, raise the hand to the withers, watching carefully for fistulous withers. Then down over the shoulder blade, w'atching for sweeney, which is shown by a hollowness of the shoulder. Follow' dovm the fore leg, watching for enlargements, such as capped elbow, enlargements of the knees, splints, ringbone, sidebones, Puffy enlargements around the fetlock knuckling. etc. All of these are common ailments. and require to he carefully locked for. Lift the foot to see if it is a well formed one, with good strong heels. M atch carefully for thrush and contracted heels. Look back along the- belly for v'arts, swelling of the. sheath, if entire, or ruptures and running sores caused from castration if a colt. Then pass one hand down over the back and hips, paying special attention to see the hips are the same size and shape. If a grey horse, examine around the tail for enlargements, or vdiat is known as melanotic tumours- Follow down the hind leg, noting the stifle joint. See that it is all right, and that both stifle ioints are the same size. After this, examine the hock joint for enlargements, such as bog and bone spavins, thoreuch pin capped hock or curb. Look down the leg for puffy enlargements, ring

bones and side bones. Then, give tbe bind foot the -same examination as tne fore. Examine the otlxex side of the horse in the same way After this, stand back and take a look at him. Note how he stands on his legs, and how he holds his head and neck. It is a good sign if he stands with his feet well under him, head and neck erect, with a bright, cheerful expression. At the same time note if he is inclined to be weak in the knees or fetlocxs. Beware of what is known as calf-kneed horses, as they are bad stumblers. &ee that his hind legs are not too straight or too crooked. Horses with straight hind legs are more inclined to have spavins. Horses with crooked hind legs are liable to curbs. Walk around to the front of the horse and see if he has a good, wide, full, well formed chest, and stands straight on his fore legs, neither _ toeing in or out too much. Make a feint as though to strike him with a stick or whip over the side. If he grunts, examine him close to see if he is not a roarer, by giving him another sharp trot or a hand gallop for half a mile, then listen to his nostrils for wheezing.