The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1917-06-09

| prepared by the United States Depart
ment OF Agriculture.)
A wide chest provides abundant
room for the heart and lungs, conse-
Quently a horse with such eonforma-
ton would be likely to have a strong
constitution. Excessive width in the
chest, however, with the forelegs set
too near the outside is liable to cause
the horse TO paddle with his front feet.
On the other hand, a narrow chest is
generally associated with a weak con-
stitution and forelegs set too close to-
gether, predispOsing the horse to
strike these limbs together when NOV
ing. Scars on the chest are not gen.
orally any more Objectionable than
their disfguring appearance.
The structural examination OF the
fOrelimbs begins with the forearm,
which should show strong muscular
development on the outside just below
its junction with the shoulder. For
speed it should be much longer than
the cannon. The kneecap should be
broad. Scars on the inside of the knee
show that the horse hits these mem
bers in moving. The cannon in which
the tendOns and bones show promi-
nently beneath the skin will stand
hard wear, because the tissues are of
dense, tough character. The fetIock
joint should be large enough to de-
note strength without being coarse.
Pasterns that are moderately long and
that slope at an angle of about 45
degrees with the ground aid in produc-
ing elastic, springy action which alb
serbs conclusions or jars much better
than short, upright pasterns. PaSternS
too long and too near the horizontal
are weak. The foot that is not too
wide or too narrow and long, but
which is fairly concaye, with the frog
and bars prominent will have durabil-
ity. Low or contracted heels are more
liable to become unsound than are fair
" deep and open heels. Cracks and
many nail holes indicate poor quality
Of the hoof.
The following are unsoundness and
blemishes of the forelimbs: Shoe
bOils, which are cIassed as blemishes,
are caused by the horse lying down
cow fashion, thus pressing the elbow
with the shoe. The elbows are some
times irritated by the girth, which can
easily be padded or properly placed,
thus avoiding q continuance of the
trouble. The forearm is usually free
from unsoundness, but it may be blem-
ished by injuries such as wire cuts.
Scars on the front of the knees would
lead one to suspect a stumbler.
Bony prominences known as splints,
found on the inside OF the cannon just
below the knee, may cause lameness
when first developing or when close
enough to the knee to interfere with
its movement. Splints frequently dis
appear from young horses. The front of
the cannon may be full. or the tendons
at the back may be enlarged; these
are conditions brought about by train
ing and racing and are known as
bucked skins and bowed teRdons re-
spectively. They incapacitate q horse
for fast work. The scars often asSo-
ciated with these conditions are due to
the firing room. Wind puffs are due
to fast or continuous road work, and
while they do not decrease a horses
immediate usefulness, they show that
the animal has had considerable use.
If the fetlOek joint is unduly large it
is more or less unsound. This enlarge
ment may be permanent, from an old
injury, or it may be due to hard or fast
work followed by lack OF exercise, or
to disease The slight fullness that
promptly disappears with exercise is
about as Objectionable as wind puffs. |
Interfering when associated with fore |
legs set close together or with toeing !
out considerably depreciates the value