Durango semi-weekly herald., 1907-03-04


l. muzzle; 2. face: 8. forehead; 4. poll;
.. crest; 6, check; 7. lower jaw: s. throat;
Q. neck; 10, withers: H. point of shoulder;
l2 breast; 13, elbow; "A. forearm. 10, knee:
l6. cannon or shank; II, fetlock; IS, pas
tern; 1s, coronet; 20. foot. 2l, girth; 20,
belly; 20, flank; a. back: 26, loin: 26
haunch or hip: q. Group; 2s. dock; g.
thigh or quarter, 30 lower thigh or gas
kin; 81, hook; 30, heel.
imal that is either under-shot or over
shot, as horsemen express 1t, the lat
ter frequently being called a parrot
mouth
While in front of the horse look
straight down at his front legs to
see If there are any punches, knee
caps or splints.
splint is located anywhere be-
tween the knee and the ankle, and
is found only on the front legs. 1t
takes the form of bony substance
on the inside of the leg. 1t seldom
causes lameness unless near a joint,
but 1t is liable to give trouble and is
to be avoided in making purchase.
Look over the body of the horse
to see that there are no ruptures,
1t is not always possible to avoid
mistakes in this direction Watch the
flank for unnatural or jerking action.
Sometimes horse with heaves shows
it only in the nostrils when not ex-
ercising. The breathing should be
regular, anything of labored char
acter is suspicious.
Next take a position directly oppo-
site the hind quarters and look for
curb. ringbone and thoroughpin. A
curb 10 known by an enlargement of
the back part of the hook joint A
ringbone is bony enlargement Just
about the hoof and may appear upon
either front of hind legs.
A SPAWN comes on the inside OF the
leg below the hook joint, hard bony
substance more or less perceptible. A
thoroughpin is located directly in the
hook joint and Is known by small
puff in the skin on opposite sides. BY
pressing the finger over the spot on
the outside it may be felt on the in
side of the leg. and vice versa. In
later stages it becomes hardened.
To one familiar with handling
horses 1t is not even necessary to pass
the hand over the different parts to
detect these evidences of unsoundness,
although the inexperienced may find
it a help to do so.
Look for shoe boil on the elbow.
or upper extremity OF the front leg.
These are really blemishes rather than
unsoundness. the same being true of
wind puffs found Just above the
ankles.
Above all be sure the feet are per.
feet. The saying. mo foot no horse"
is true one
Be sure there are no quarter cracks
In the hoof. Let the heel be fairly
high and the foot well cupped. which
means that II should have a concaye
under surface. A black hoof is consid.
cred harder than white one. although
there are many white hoofs which
wear we'll
Lastly, take position behind the
animal and notice his hips. They
should be exactly alike in outline
See that the tail is carried straight.
Like the shoe boil and the wind puff
this is only a blemish but detracts
somewhat from the animals value
commercially. For the same reason
note the way he walks.
After all these instructions have
been followed out so back to The head
and look him over on the other side.
There are many little tricks or
characteristics certain horses have, as
well as peculiaritles of disposition,
which can only be discovered by use.
The above, however, will enable the
buyer to detect actual soundness IL
1t exists.