The Jasper news., 1917-05-03

alike. Hollows over the eyes denote
old age or a lack of vitality. I'm
scrupulous dealers have sometimes In
flated these hollows with mir, but this
can readily be detected by pressing
with the fingers, which forces the air
into the adjacent cavities, leaving the
natural hollowness.
Ears.-Horses are not often troubled
with deafness, still II Is advisable to
test the hearing by noting responses
to the voice. The ears should be
placed fairly close together at the
highest point of the poll and should
usually be carried forward. To add
to the appearance they should be OF
delicate texture, taper to graceful
points, and be covered with fine hair
Topped ears are very unsightly and
many tricks are used to cover up such
defects such as tying together with
fine thread the ear nets which the
horse may be wearing, or the ears
themselves may be tied together, the
hairs of the foretop hiding the thread
Slight operations are also performed
with the object of remedying this de-
feet.
PoIl.--The poll should be examined
for signs of poll evil, disease caused
by bruising the top of the head. In
flammation In this region, usually ac-
companied by discharge of pus, would
lead one to suspect this disease, which
is often slow to yield to treatment und
tt,ht In of
thought to be cured. 1t often leaves
ugly scars after healing.
Neck.-A clean-cut throat latch on
a crested neck of good length gives
horse style and beauty Of outline and
consequently enhances his value. In
mature stations the development of
full crest is an indication of mascu-
Unity. Evidences of bleeding, indl-
eating previous bad health, should be-
looked for in the jugular vein, and It
Is also advisable to lay back the name
and look for scars. The neck should
join the shoulders smoothly.
Shoulders.-Short shoulders do not
generally indicate sufficient room for
Il large heart and for lungs capable Of
handling maximum quantity of mir.
Straight shoulders favor low, short,
stubby action of the front feet. A low
carriage of the head, with heavy ir-
responsive mouth are often associated
with a long back and correspondingly
short underline, whereas the opposite
proportions, namely, short back and
a long underline, are desirable. The
conclusions or jars on the front legs
resulting from their striking the
ground are considerably relieved by
sloping shoulders, by not having this
effect, tend to promote early unsound-
ness of these limbs. Strong constitu-
ton, endurance, good front action, and
style are associated with deep. well-de-
veloped shoulders. For draft purposes
the shoulders should have pronounced
offsets, so that the face of the collar
will have plenty of bearing surface.
The position Of the collar on such
shoulder Is not materially changed, no
matter how hard the pull
Examine the withers for fistula, q
disease similar to poll evil, except that
1t is differently located. Fistula Is
thought to result from bruising the
wlthers, the resulting Inflammation
and pus being slow TO yield to treat
ment, so that cases are often of very
long standing. The disease sometimes
appears to be Of very minor impor.
lance, but the Illustration shows the
large amount of tissue that may be.
come involved. Fistula should not be
confused with collar sores, which are
often found on the top Of the neck just
In front of the withers. Collar sores
also often occur on the sides of the
neck. When not of too long standing
they heal readily. II on properly
formed shoulders. Calloused-thickened
spots resulting from old collar sore
again unless the collar can be kept
from pressing on them. In so-called
sweenied shoulders, the muscles have
atrophied or shrunken, and horses with
such defects are practically valueless
for work, for the time being, at least.