The horse in the stable and the field : his varieties, management in health and disease, anatomy, physiology, etc. . om these facts, and others not within my own knowledge, I am led toconclude that the cause is not inherent in the breed, but is accidentallyintroduced by the use of rejected stallions for farmers purposes. Theseget good-looking colts, which fetch high prices, and therefore suit thebreeders purpose just as well as the sounder horse, who would perhapscost twice as much for his services. The farmer seldom tries the legsmuch, and it is only when put to work that the weakness is disc
The horse in the stable and the field : his varieties, management in health and disease, anatomy, physiology, etc. . om these facts, and others not within my own knowledge, I am led toconclude that the cause is not inherent in the breed, but is accidentallyintroduced by the use of rejected stallions for farmers purposes. Theseget good-looking colts, which fetch high prices, and therefore suit thebreeders purpose just as well as the sounder horse, who would perhapscost twice as much for his services. The farmer seldom tries the legsmuch, and it is only when put to work that the weakness is discovered,which to the eye is not by any means perceptible. From a long experiencein my own case, and in that of others, I am convinced that legs cannot beselected by the appearance or feel. I do not mean to say that out of fortyhorses the twenty Avith the best-looking legs will not beat the others, butthat it is impossible for any juage, however good, to pronounce with any-thing like certainty whether a certain leg will stand or not, withoutknowing anything of the possessor of it. In so many instances have I seen. 124 THE HORSE a leg, pronounced by several good judges to be undeniably good, go topieces directly, and a bad one stand, that I can only come to the conclusionthat no certain opinion can be formed from a mere inspection. This is agreat source of loss to the dealer who buys his horses after a long rest,and with their legs looking fine and sound; for even the necessary showing out will make many give way, and lameness ensue of acharacter which will not warrant a return, yet sufficient to prevent aprofitable sale. A horse sore from Avork is cooled down, physicked, andput into a loose box; he is then blistered, and kept without more thanquiet exercise till he is to be sold, and by that time his legs are as fineas the day he was foaled. Now, I defy any one, however skilful, to detectthe inherent weakness; but there it is, and on the first weeks severe workthe inflammation re
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