The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1914-12-17

Special purpose can uOL ue
judged exactly unless the exam
liner has a general understanding of
the unsoundnesses that most fire.
quently detract from the value of
horses. 1t is also necessary for the
horseman who makes the examina-
ton to have a good fundamental
knowledge of the normal conforma-
tion and other constitutional re-
quirements.
Having this knowledge he is able
readily to detect any deviation from
the most desirable types and by this
means be guided in his examination
for indications Of the weaknesses
which the variations are quite like
ly to develop and even though
equipped with this knowledge, con-
siderable experience in judging and
comparing horses of different vari-
cites and types is essential to success.
Theory is of but little real value
since one may know and be able to
describe any normal feature of the
animal without being able to detect
the abnormality.
Specialists Definition.
As defined by Carl N. Kennedy,
horse specialist at the Oregon Agri-
cultural College, any abnormality is
an unsoundness, but the legal def
milton usually accepted by courts Of
law and in business transactions
generally, is that only those un-
s%oundnesses that interfere with the
horses use, or that may interfere,
are unsoundnesses. Neither are all
blemishes unsoundnesses, although
an unsoundness may be a blemish
since the blemish merely detracts
from the beauty of the part, while
an unsoundness detracts from the
usefulness of the animal.
The extent to which an unsound-
ness detracts from the value OF the
animal depends upon a great many
factors, but after consultation with
horse growers and dealers in vari-
GUS parts of the United States, Pro-
lessor Kennedy believes that the fol-
lowing list of cuts for the most COM
mon unsoundnesses Is on the aver
age about correct:
UnsOundness Expensive.
A sidebone, s25; ringbone, $50;
small bone spawn, $40; small curb.
SIS; large curb, $40; cock ankle,
$50 to SIS; theropin, $40 to $25,
and bog SPAWN, IS to $50. These
figures apply to the unsoundness in
which lameness does not occur and
II any Of them is accompanied by
lameness, the loss of value is still
greater.
Certain of these unsoundnesses
are still more important matter when
they affect breeding animals, since
they are frequently transmitted from
the sire or dam to the offspring, not
that the unsoundness itself is neces-
sarily transmitted, but the abnormal
conformation that is likely to develop
1t. Very successful stockmen should
be able to detect these unsoundnesses
and II a breeder should not use for
breeding purposes animals that are
effected by them.
For any of the following unsound-
nesses, stations are barred from pub
lie service in this state by law: Cata-
ract, amaurosis, periodic ophthalmia,
Moon blindness), laryngeal hemi-
plegia (roaring or whistling), chorea
(~stringhalt, st. Vitus dance), bone
SPAWN, bog SPAWN, %ringbone, side
bone, and curb, when accompanied
by a CURLY conformation of the hook.
Navicular disease is thought by
many people to be hereditary and
should therefore be Disseminated
against. There are, however, a few
unsoundnesses, such as fistula, that
Injuries a horse more or less for work,
but being non-transmissable, do not
injure for breeding purposes.
Examine Thoroughly.
1t Is best where feasible, to make
the examination for unsoundnesses
both in the stable and out of 1t, but
this Is often impossible and certain
stable vices are likely to be over
looked. The examination may be
begun by having the horse led both
at a walk and at a trot and watch
ing closely the movement. Close OBJ
s~ervation of the horse, both going
and coming, r necessary in order
to detect certain forms of lameness.
A somewhat short stilted gait indi-
Gates soreness in front and stubbing
Of toes of the hind feet points to
bone SPAWN. Lameness in the front
feet will probably be indicated by
the motion of the head favoring the