Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1901-07-25

EaAm,ning Horses for soundnsss
Farmers as much as any class OF
men should know what to look for
when looking over horse before pur-
chasing him and should go about 1t In
a proper way AS 1t is, they are too apt
to think that because they have always
had more or less to do with horses
that they cannot be fooled or cheated.
and are 80 often too careless with the
result that they fall into traps and are
financial losers. We see this at the
Chicago Stock Yards, where many
farmers come to buy work horses and
give them less careful examination
than many city buyers. who show
great care in their purchases and en-
ploy veterinarians to help them II not
personally qualified to Judge as to
soundness. There are q few simple
points which anyone may remember
and follow when examining a horse
to find IL he is sound or practically
sound. See the horse in his stall and
before he has been exercised for the
day IL possible. BY SO doing 1t Is
often possible to discover that the an
imal Is a "cribber" and "windsucker."
In the same way one may catch
case Of spawn lameness which would
not be seen were the horse allowed to
come out Of the barn on the run and
keep going while under inspection.
Many spawned horses show the lame
ness most when made to get over" in
the stall and when backing out of the
stall. This is also true of horses af-
hicted with chorea (St. Vitus' dance),
which is not apparent when the ami
NAL Is exercised, yet constitutes un-
soundness. Horses SO affected are
termed Granny" by the horse buyers
and some of them are so slightly af-
fected that one is sure to be stuck" II
the examination Is not made in the
barn. BY watching the horse in his
stall 1t is also possible to notice II he
be weaver" which means a horse
that is constantly weaving his head
back and forward like q captive lion
in his den. This is to many people
very irritating habit and is certainly
unsightly, but does not, properly
speaking, constitute unsoundness, nor
do We think 1t Injuries a horse for
work. After viewing the horse in his
stall have him led out and examine
his eyes. Stand In front Of him and
with the hand pretend to strike the
horse below the eye. trying each side
alternately. The animal will finch
the moment the motion Is made IL he
can see. This Is necessary even with
horses having large. prominent eyes.
for there is disease called "amauro-
SIS" which causes blindness from par
alysis Of the optic nerves, yet the an
imal has fine appearing eye Walk
slowly around the horse and note his
every point from small distance.
Look at the contour of his head and
neck, the lines Of his back, the way
his shoulders are set, the manner in
which he stands upon his legs. the
shape Of his legs, the way In which he
carries his tail, the many other points
which go to make a horse attractive
or the reverse. Watch him again
when walked and trotted, and II he Is
satisfactory in these respects examine
him more carefully point by point
when standing still. Commence at
the teeth and determine his age, or 1t
will be usually sufficient to ascertain
whether he Is under or over eight
years of age. Pass the finger into the
mouth and examine by pressure where
the bit would press to see IL the bars
Of the mouth (lower jaw are sound.
Often the bone is broken at this place,
and this is usually indicated by an
open sore and bad odor from retained
decomposing saliva or bone. See that
the tongue Is whole. not partially sew
cred; that the front teeth Cncisors)
do not lap over each other like the
bill Of parrot. for a horse so de-
formed cannot Craze properly. Next
examine the corners of the mouth to
see that he Is not hard puller as in
dicated by sore or callous condition
which indicates Juggling on the bit.
II the teeth are much worn down in
an uneven manner in front 1t may be
concluded that the horse is cribber
II that has not been discovered by
watching him in his stall. Examine
the nostrils for tumor or polypus
may be present in the false nostril
which overlies the true nostril. 1t
may also show evidence Of chronic
discharge which II present should
lead the intending buyer to examine
more carefully for CHAMBERS, nasal
glut or diseased molar tooth.