THE DRAUGHT HORSES

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 160, 24 July 1937, Page 14

THE DRAUGHT HORSES

Causes of Unsoundness Discussed MR. LAING'S ADDRESS Some of the causes of unsoundness not uncommon in the draught horse formed the subject of a most interesting and instructive address by Mr. A. D. N. G. Laing, M.R.C.V.S., Government veterinarian, of the Department of Agriculture at Hastings,, to farmers and farm workers at the Patangata ploughing match held on Mr. W. G. Evaxi 's property near Otane on Thursday. Mr. Laing commenced his address by expuaining that the term "unsound" had been defined as meaning any disease which either diminished the natural usefulness of the horse so as to make him less capable of work of any description or which in its ordinary progress would diminish the natural usefulness of the animal. Further, it the horse had either undergone any alteration of structure that either actualJy did or, in its ordinary efiects, would diminish the natural usefulness of the horse, theu it was unsound. The coinmon defects of the draught horse, explained Mr. Laing, were those which aifeeted the limbs. In regard to the fore-limb the defects, in general, could be divideci into conditions which nffect the bones, the tendons or ligaments and the muscles. In the case of the latter two some injury, direet or indirect, by a sudden strain was usually the primary cause. In the case of bone conditions, while injury played a part, it was frequently the case that no definite cause could be assigned. Heredity which was considered to play a part was a point on which there had been and no doubt would be much controversy. Shoulder Slip.

Commeneing with the shoulder, Mr. Laing mentioned the condition known as shoulder slip or supra-scapular paraiysis. It was not uncommon in hilly districts and among young horses but those of all ages were liable to it. The principal cause ' was considered to be mjury to the nerve supplying the muscles which lay near the surfaee in front of the shoulder. The injury was usually due to the animal slipping iu and out of the furrow, walkmg on uneven ground, collar pressure or to direct injury in the region of the shoulder. When the foot was brought to the ground and the greatest weight was placed upon it, the shoulder may be observed to jerk outwards, hence the term shoulder slip. The wasting of the muscles did not take place nor was it apparent to the eye until several weeks after the injuiy, although lameness would be noticeable at once. Lower down the limb was a condition known as splints, which was a oony enlargement upon^the small metacarpal or metatarsal (splint) bones. oplmts niight be high up or quite low and the old eaying "the higher the splint, the greatdr the danger ' ' was a lairly triie warning. It was due to an mflainmation on the- surfaee of the bones concerned, due to exeessivo weight having been placed on the small splint-bones. It was most frequent in young horses. Provided it did not affeet the play of the tendons or with the action of the knee it should not interfere unduly with the work of a draught horse. Effect of Sudden Strain. A sudden strain, explained the speaker behind and below the knee or a slip-up when pulling a heavy load might result in infiammation of the cheque-ligament or even injury to the flexor tendons causing pronounced lameness. A firm and usually painful swelling might be looked for. Soft and compressible swellings forming ,the commoner type of windgall just above the fetlock might later become hard, resulting in permanent lameness. Another trouble causing lameness was ringbone whieh was an enlargement of oones just below the fetlock. This was usually .due ito ',Qoneussion on hard ground. After the eonditdon has subsided a slow-working horse need not be greatly aifeeted except where the actual joints had been interfered with, when it was unlikely that the anijual would be completely free from lameness. Marshy pastures or prolonged standing in dirty wet litter wero causes of thrush which was an aifection of the frog in the hoof, horses with contracted feet being the most liable to it. Sandcrack was also touched upon by the speaker. Eactors bringing it about were alternate moisture and aryness of the horn due to certain working conditions, or to a slip-up while on rough, hard ground. Excessive rasping of the wall resulting in dryness was a predisposing cause. Where the crack was of a deep nature lameness was usually present, being severe where the underiying structures wero inflamed. A simpl sandcrack, said Mr. Laing, was not a serious matter and with proper treatuiont recovery would ensue. Another condition that aifeeted ilte hoof was seedy toe and, if sufficiently aeute to cause lameness, months might elapse before the horse would be fit to work. Iu the case where only a small area was aifeeted and there was no lameness, the horse could be worked during treatment. Laminitis, commonly known as founder, was an dnflammatory condition of the sensitive laminae of the foot whieli could be very serious, resulting in aeute pain to tho animal. It wus usually

due to causes situated far away from the foot, such as an exeessively nitrogenous diet or an excessive quantity of green stuif to which the animal was not accustomed' or to overwork. Toxaemia would frequently cause lhminitis and iu the case of the mare, it was imperative that if the cleanings have not been got rid of naturally, they should be renioved 16 to 18 hours after foaliug. Passing to the hind limb, Mr. Laing explained that thorpin was an inflammatory condition of the sheathe, being sometimes aecompanied by lameness, that was at tim.es diificult to get rid of. It might be present in unworked horses, while straight hocks were predisposing towards it. Other inatters reiating to the hock that were touched upon were cui'b aud spavin, the latter being a bony enlargement of the hoek-joint. Putting a young horse to work too early, severe exertion, violent movements as in slipping when pulling a heavy load, were all factors liable to causo injury to the joint resulting in spavin. A serious condition due to it invariabiy growing worse wuh advancing years was tiiat known as shivering. Ueing a deiinitely hereditary condition staluons or mares aifeeted should not be used for breedmg. iShivering was most common in heavy draughts and frequently grew progressively worse until the animal was unfit for work. Excitement or. a chill increased its effect while a rest for a few weeks might bring about a temporary improvement. As it advanced the horse became unable to baek a load. He would also refuse to lie down and in attempting to sleep while standing might fall and injure himself. Mr. Laing was warmly thanked for his address which was listened to with keen interest.