HORSES-

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 63, Issue 1, 15 July 1941, Page 17

HORSES-

1,1 By 1,1

J. MULLINS.

Veterinarian, Hamilton.

Sound and Unsound

IN spite of the vagaries of peace and war, the horse will probably continue to prove a useful andthough to a diminishing extent —essential member of the domestic animal world. True, he has ceased' to play the part he once did, but as far as war is concerned, let us be glad that he is no longer the uncomprehending victim of the machinations of the genus “homo.” On the roads and farms, also, he seems destined to play a minor role, which is a matter of at least nostalgic regret, as with the passing of the horse, a' pillar ,of the old rural economic and social structure . has been removed. Oil fuel has replaced oats and hay, and we have poisonous exhaust gases and old iron instead of . honest horse sweat and useful excreta; with. the horse nothing is lost even when dead (excepting the “dead cert.”). Further, the “village smithy” for example, no longer finding it remunerative under the chestnut tree, has ■■ forsaken it for the “super six.” In the racing and hunting fields the horse still has a leading part, although the fact remains that for many racegoers the horses there are really unnecessary; anything else might do as well. . Servant and Friend Apart from the foregoing, which may be a trifle overdrawn, most will agree

that there is a good kick left in the old horse yet, and let us hope he will continue to play a part as man’s unquestioning friend and servant. The introduction of the Remounts Subsidy Regulations and the' Stallions Act a few years ago would indicate that there is still a place for the horse in New Zealand. These aim at the breeding of a better and sounder type of riding and draught horse, for which there is much room, as is evident throughout the country. It is a pleasure to ride and work a good horse, and he costs no more to keep than the other sort. Stallions accepted under the above Acts must be free from hereditary unsoundness. This, of course, is most essential. An ■. unsoundness may be taken as any disease or defect likely to interfere with the usefulness of the horse. So custom and law have decreed that any. horse suffering from any of the following is , unsound:- —Roaring, whistling, bone spavin, ring-bone, sidebone, navicular disease, curb, stringhalt, shivering, cataract, all of which are hereditary unsoundness. Stallions must also be free from bog spavin, thoropin and nasal disease, and must not have defective genital organs. /, Defects Descried Most “horsey” men will be conversant with the diseases and defects men-

tioned, but for those who are not, -a brief explanation is given. Roaring. The horse makes a harsh roaring sound during inspiration when galloped or otherwise exerted. This is due to paralysis of one or both vocal cords in larynx, and is obviously a serious defect, causing great distress in bad cases. Whistling.— Whistling is but a less serious form of roaring. (Broken wind is a disease of the lungs.)

Bone Spavin.— Bone spavin is an inflammation of the bones of the hock joint, which usually results in the irregular formation of new bone, which shows as a hard enlargement on inner surface of joint. It causes serious lameness, but response to rest and treatment is frequently good. A feature of this disease is the great lameness shown. on starting off and going on toe, but as the animal warms up lameness tends to disappear. — Ring-bone is an inflammation of the surface of the pastern bones, with again the formation of new bone, which frequently forms. a ring around pastern; hence “ring-bone.” If the new bone impinges on joints, a hopeless lameness ensues. Side-bone.— is a disease of the fore feet due to the replacement of the soft cartilage of the heels with bone. It causes a constriction of the

feet, and some degree of lameless frequently follows. Navicular Disease.— is an inflammation of the navicular bone, which is a small bone situated within the foot towards the heel. A disease of the fore feet, it results in an incurable lameness. ' Curb. — Curb is an inflammation and swelling of a tendon at the back of the hock a few inches below the point. A divergence from the normal straight line is seen. Lameness frequently follows, but rest . and treatment usually give good results. Curbs are frequently first “sprung” in predisposed animals when 'put to jumping. String-halt.— is characterised by a jerky lifting of one or both hind legs when the animal is made to move. In bad cases the legs may strike the belly. The gait of these animals is unsightly,

and militates against good and lasting performance. The cause of this disease is obscure. Shivering.— Shivering is characterised by a peculiar ■ shivering or trembling of certain muscles in the hind-quarters and tail when the animal is backed or the feet are lifted. The cause here also is obscure. - This disease is usually progressive, and may result in the animal becoming useless. Cataract. This is a disease of the lens or pupil of the eye. A film grows over its outer surface, making the horse blind. Other Defects Weaving, crib-biting, and wind-suck-ing are also unsoundness, but as they are often difficult to detect in examination, the word of the vendor is asked, which in these cases is sufficient protection. Splints are bony enlargements below and inside the knee, and unless they impinge on the back tendons, causing lameness, they are of no consequence and do not constitute an unsoundness. Mention might be made of the synovial conditions known as bog spavin, thoropin and windgalls, which may cause lameness and are difficult to remove. , Bog spavin is an inflammation of the synovial membranes of the hock joint, with the formation of excess synovia or joint oil, which results in distension of that area inside the joint but higher up than bone spavin'. Thoropin is of a similar nature and is situated above the hock, with distension of the depressions there. Windgalls are inflammation and distension of the synovial sheath through which the tendons pass at back of and just above the fetlock joint. ■ Special mention might be made of the foot, as “no foot, no horse.” The feet should be sufficiently large and open at the heels to prevent constriction of the inner foot. The soles should be concave is, off the ground—and not flat or dropped. The horn should be good, and not shelly. All lame horses are, of course, unsound. A lame horse should never be purchased, however modified the price, in the expectation that it can be cured or on the affirmation of the vendor that “it is nothing.” In fact, never buy an unsound horse of any kind if you can raise the price of a sound one, and never, never breed from a sire or dam with a hereditary unsoundness. , In conclusion, see that your horse is symmetrical. '