The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-11-04
S0UNDNESS Of HORSES.
The Best Expert Is Liable to Be
Misled and Make
Mistakes.
The Process of Examining a Horse
Should Be Begun in His
Stall.
Parts o! Anatomy to BE Most Closely In
I spected-Nhere Is Most
Easily Detected.

aorsemen that give a good deal of atten-
tion to this matter sometimes become as
expert aD veterinarians in determining
%soundness and ~unscundness in horses, and
in knowing the influence which the differ
ent forms of defects in horses legs, etc.,
have upon their usefulness. as we'll as the
amount of depreciation it causes in their
value when put upon the market. Such
knowledge, of course, is of considerable
value to the man who buys. sells and acts
as a judge at horse fairs, but the advantage
of it is often lessened by the want of sys-
tenn in the manner in which it is carried.
out. Ii we do not pursue a regular course
in the process of examination for sound
ness, we are liable to overlook some point,
no matter how much knowledge we possess
On this subject; SO that in order to reduce
risk to a minimum We should adopt a reg
ular plan Of examination, and always curry
it out if at all practicable. 1t is often said,
and with truth, that the best expert in ex-
aiming horses is liable to be misled and
make mistakes; but although this is true,
if care is exercised, errors Of Importance
should very seldom be made.
In carrying out the process of examining
horses for s%oundness. in a way to take ad-
vantage of every opportunity, it is of some
value to be able to commence the examina-
tion Of a horse in his own stall, and when
he is in a cool and unexcited condition. for
some weaknesses may then be detected
will less trouble and greater certainty than
when the horse is brought to one. For in
stances, windsuckers, cribbers and weavers
will sometimes show these defects more
clearly in their own stable than in ii strange
place. The victim of incipient SPAWN or
navicular disease may require a good cool
ing off after e~1ertion before they evidence
any clear symptoms of disease. Then the
attitude in which a horse stands in his own
stall be of some value in enabling one to
form a conclusion as to his %soundness. His
manners in his stall, although not a ques-
ton involved in that of soundness, is of
some value, as it enables one to notice if he
possesses the bad habit of kicking at his
surroundings, and whether he is kind on
being approached by his attendants. After
a look has been taken ut him when stand
ing, an ordinary riding bride should be
put on him, and he should be led out into
a favorable place as to light and
room and held by an attendant.
The mouth is generally first inspected,
both with the object of determining the
age, AS lnolcated by the teeth; ana II any
thing in the animals condition suggests it.
as unthriftiness they should be examined
with Il view of finding out if these organs
are in n natural state, or whether irregu-
~lsrities of growth and wear are present, or
If any of them are decayed. If anything
abnormal exists 1T has to be considered
and it's Importance estimated at it's T. US
value. Cribbers and windsuckers have
their cutting teeth beveled off on the front
from the wear resulting from the gripping
of hard structures. However, a horse
sometimes has his teeth SO worn of from