The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1917-06-14

of a horse, especially for anything
other than slow work, and it is to be
suspected when scars are found on the
inside of the fetlock joint.
RingbOne is an unsOundnesS charac-
terized by bony engagements on the
front and side of the pastern, which
cause lameness when developed to suf-
ficient size to interfere with the action
of the joints and tendons. These bony
prominenceS can be detected by pass
ing the hand over the pastern if they
are not large enough to be seen when
in front or at the sides of the fore
limbs. f*
Side bones can best be seen from the
front. They occur on the sides of the
coronet. When they are prominent
enough to be noticed by the eye their
presence may be detected by grasping
the back Of the coronet between the
thumb and fingers and pressing. If
healthy it will yield to pressure; if I'M
sound it will be hard and rigid. Side
bones on the forefeet interfere with &C.
ton and may cause lameness.
Scratches is the name given to q
cracked condition of the skin at the
back Of the paSternS and over the
heels. This trouble is not serious but
is hard to heal unless the horse can re-
main inactive for some time. In ami
mails of pacing gait the quarters may
show scars from cross-firing or hitting
this region with the hind foot on the
opposite side. Scars resulting from
barbed-wire cuts are Objectionable only
on account Of their ugliness.
Pick up a foot and note the willing
ness with which horse lets you hold
it. This should aid in discovering a
subject difficult to shoe. The feet
should be free from diseases such as
thrush and corns, which hinder action.
Navicular disease is to be suspected
when a horse stands with fOrefOot
extended and with the toe only resting
on the ground. This disease impedes
the gait and usually causes lameness.
Slight ridges on the walls of the hoofS
parallel with the coronary band may
result from stomach and intestinal dis
orders, while more pronounced ridges
close together at the toe and far apart
at the heel, If accompanied by dropped
sole, would indicate previous case OF
founder, q disease which usually leaves
horse sore and stiff in his forefeet.
The conformation of the barrel has
much to do with horses health and
appearance, as it determines to con-
siderable degree the size and strength
of the vital organs. The back should
be short and straight, the ribs well
sprung from the backbone and Of suffl-
cient length to form deep barrel. The
distance between the last, or floating,
rib and the point of the hip should be
short. The last rib should not
be sunken, but should be prominent,
giving q smooth coupling. With
short, well-muscled loin and a deep
flank together with smooth cou-
pling) horse should be an easy Keep
er and should not look tucked up or
gaunt after hard days work.
AS regards unsoundness or blemlsh
in these parts, hernia or rupture occurs
on the abdomen at or near the navel
Small hernias are merely unsightly'
while larger ones depreciate horses
value in direct proportion to their size.
The barrel should be free from s1ttasts
or saddle and girth sores. An enlarged
sheath is generally due to disease. Ma
ture stations should have two proml-
nent testicles; ridglings have one tes-
ticle that has not descended into the
scrotum and are very annoying to ham
die because they have the desires ana
actions of a stallion. They can De
completely castrated only by a severe
surgical operation. Mares which nave
produced colts have well-deyelopeo
teats.