Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1901-08-01
s..msains Horse. for so.ndn..a

ExanrsninG Horses for soundness.
When handling the head Of q horse
under inspection feel II the bone OF
the lower jaw is thicker on one side
than the other as an enlargement at
this place indicates osteo-porosis, an
incurable disease Of the bones. Next
dilate the jugular vein by pressing
upon it with the finger in the jugular
groove to determine whether 1t Is in
tact or not. Sometimes the vein has
been severed when bleeding" and this
constitutes unsoundness as the ami
NAL cannot get his head down to Craze
without falling. Examine the poll
back of the ears for poll evil" and the
ears for abscess or running sore. Pass
the hand down along the name to see
| that there IL not a chronic skin dis
ease at the roots of the hair or sore
| where the collar comes. The withers
are next examined for "flstula" or
the evidences of an old attack indi-
Gated by scars or the loss of some OF
the bone OF the spines at that place.
Examine the shoulders for collar boils
or fibroid tumors caused by bad fit
| ting collar. Now look at the elbow OF
the near side for capped elbow tshoe
bold, then pass the hand down the leg,
examining carefully under the knee for
high and low splint, osslets, bowed
tendon, etc., and lower down for in
juries or engagements at the ankle
| joint or for evidences of interfering.
| The foot should be next very carefully
inspected. First look for side bones
at the seat of the lateral cartilages,
then for quarter cracks, sand cracks,
| thrush, corns, seedy toe, dropped sole,
contracted heels, stone bruise, quittor,
ringbone, coronitis, etc. Now stand
erect and examine the back, the place
where the saddle presses, the point
where the surcingle comes, the loins,
| to see II they are strong and the
coupling short. Stoop now and look to
see If the horse has been clearly cas-
trated and that a running sore or
tumor are not present in the scrotum
or rupture at either that point or
the navel. II mare see that the udder
is free from abscess or shows no signs
| of pregnancy. Next examine the hind
| leg in a manner similar to the process
of viewing the fore limb. Commence
at the stife joint and look for drop
steal swelling. looseness when in mo-
ton, signs of blistering or firing. Come
down the leg to the hook and examine
| for SPAWN (bog and bone) and behind
| the hook for curb, while at the same
| time the point of the hook is seen to
be free from callous or Gaping in
dicative of a post kicker. Examine
tail to see IL it is carried straight, II
| it has been locked, II there Is false
tail attached (this is not uncommon
in the cities). II a mare lift the tail
and look for tear of the perineum
which constitutes "gill fiirt" and was
caused by rupture of the tissues at
| difficult labor. The same examination
will serve to show II the mare is af-
ficted with leucorrhoea or has a can
Ger of the vagina, or polypus. The
condition of the anus should also be
examined for here are to be found evil
dences Of worms If present or paralysis
which is sometimes present and con-
stitutes an unsoundness. In examina-
ton of the hind leg it should also be
remembered to look for string halt and
at the foot making a search for ring
bone, thrush, evidences Of interfering.
over reaching, speedy cut, knuckling,
etc. Having seen to all Of these things
next drive the horse and see how he
behaves under all circumstances. is not
"A shyer, tail switcher, baker, stumbler.
rearer. runaway. kicker, etc. II he
passes all of this examination it then
remains to test his wind. Take MIN cut
of the harness to halter. Place him
broadside to a wall, then suddenly pre-
tend to strike him with whip and
IL he is windbroken he will grunt.
This is but partial test and 1t is nee
ossary to next hitch him up and give
him gallop on soft road or with
wheels locked, then suddenly stop him
and note II he wheezes, whistles or
roars, has "thumps' or pants inor-
| dinately. These few hints about test
ing horses for soundness will, We
think, impress the necessity of care
and help those who have horses to
| buy.