The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-07-05
KeenIng Horses Sound.

A southern exchange contains the following
valuable article. most Of 1t being taken from
Turf, Field and Farm.
Having had occasion during the last year or
so 10 see large number Of the better class OK
horses, we have been surprised TO find So
many of them little over on the knees. so 20
speak, especially among road horses and trot-
tiers that are used for fast driving. This u
the trouble with many horses that are offered
for sale and are otherwise good selling horses
In many cases the trouble is but slight. and
owners are 10th TO acknowledge that their
animals are not lust right and will strongly
insist that thew are sound and will aska sound
price. But the keen-eyed buyer detects the
triiing defect at once, and governs himself
accordingly.
Inst what causes such tendency 10 sprung
knees among horses we cannot tel, out W
are inclined to think that one OF the causes IS
tbe too common practice among those VINO
tTink their horses have q little speed 70 have
them shod with heavy toe-weight shoes IL MS
seems 10 tire the muscles of the front part OF
the fore leg. and in time weakens them 80
that they do not hold the leg in place, says
Turf, Field and Farm. We think that the
better way is. if O horse must wear we'glss 70
either shoe. shoe him with an eyen-wel9hteo
shoe. or else have some toe-weights whcn eau
be put on occasionally and kept on Tor asingie
drive. Perhaps another equally prolhc cause
of sprung knees is allowing the feet TO become
tender or out Of shape from improper shoeing,
so that the horse lexes the knee 10 relieve the
strain on the lower tendons and on the heeis
Standing still too long at time in the stan
is also said 10 cause sprung knees. Atter
these things have done their work and are
sprung. or weak and trembling. 1t Is difh-
cult matter t. effect q cure, although q sea-
sons run at grass sometimes accompllshes
wonders. But TO keep the animal sound IN
the first place Is not 50 hard matter, ana
only requires little common sense ana care
taking. Shoe with even weight shoes, not too
heavy: keep the foot level and the toe not too
long: avoid extremely hard drives or extreme
idleness: keep the feet cool and free from NTH
and there will be but little danger Of sprung
knees.
Another common species Of unsoundness
which spOils the sale OF many goOd horses
are curbs ana puffy joints. B0th OF tnese'
ike sprung knees are sometimes very sllght,
and il is sometimes hard to decide whether
the horse is unsound or not. Curbs can gen
erally be entirely removed by swearing DIS
ters and congresses. but puts ana thorough
min are difficult TO cure, and even II kept GOWN
for time ara apt 10 reappear- 10 prevent
fine appearance Of curbs and pufis avoid SUD-
iecting the animal to violent strains, such as
Jerking him suddenly back on his naunches'
backing heavy loads in soft ground. getting
them INTO deep snow. or loading them too
heavily. ,,
We have often advised working brood-mareS
and yearling horses on the farm, ou5 we GiIi
not mean that they should be asked " pun
extremely heavy loads or to back them.
Trotting horses at their fastest clip over oyer
rough roads. hitched to heavy wagons. IS also
a prolific cause of pufs and curbs. There IS q
great deal said and written about now 10
breed valuable horses and how 10 make them
trot fast. but it IS equally as important lnH5
the breeder who raises horses to sen should
know how to keep them sound, and this phase
Of the subject needs 70 be studied and written
about as well as any other.