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

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 enlargements 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.
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 viii yield to pressure; if I'M
sound it will be hard and rigid. Side
bones on the forefeet interfere with ac-
ton and may cause lameness.
Scratches is the name given to a
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-f1ring or hitting
this region with the hind foot on the
opposite side. Scars resulting from
barbed-wire cuts are Objectionable only
on QPOO70f nf fhoi-
Pick up a foot and note the willing
ness with which a 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 q 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
@O0A0CAs q 0lSCdSO NI4Cu uSudllT leaves
a horse sore and stiff in his forefeet.
The conformation Of the barrel has
much to do with horses health and
as it determines to a 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 sufi- |
cient length to form a 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 a smooth coupling. With a /
short, wen-muscled loin and a deep /
flank together with a smooth cou-
pling) horse should be an easy keep
er and should not look tucked up or
gaunt after a hard days work.
As regards unsoundness or blemish /
IN these parts. hernia or rupture occurs
On the abdomen at or near the navel.
Small hernias are merely unsightly,
while larger ones deprecfate a horses
value In direct proportion to their size.
The barrel should be free from sitfasts
or saddle and girth sores. An enlarged
sheath Is generally due to disease. Ma
ture stations should have two promi-
1ent testicles; ridglings have one tes-
icle that has not descended into the
scrotum and are very annoying to ham
he because they have the desires and
actions OF a stallion. They can be
castrated only by a severe
surgical operation Mares which have
produced colts have weE-developed
eats.