This is an ailment of common occurrence in race-horses, but comparatively seldom seen in other varieties. The greater liability of the one over the others is associated with early training, while the bones are in active growth, and by their imperfect development specially susceptible to injury and disease.

The term "sore shins" has been applied to it on account of the extreme tenderness and pain found to exist in that part of the leg between the knee and the fetlock joint. The mischief, however, does not always stop here, but may also involve the large, and sometimes the small pastern bones, developing there the same soreness of the surface, and in some instances provoking an outgrowth of bony matter in the form of ring-bone.

The fore-limbs, for reasons presently to be stated, are more particularly the seat of sore shins, although the hind ones are not wholly exempt.

Pathologically considered, "sore shins" at the outset consists in an inflamed condition of the periosteum, or covering membrane of the bone; but unless soon relieved from the operation of the cause, the shin-bone itself soon shares in the disease. At this time the pain and lameness become aggravated, the periosteum is much thickened, and a rough bony growth appears on the surface beneath it.

Causes

Youth, and want of development and power of resistance in the bone is, as we have observed, the predisposing element to sore shins, and this is materially intensified when, as sometimes occurs, there is a hereditary predisposition to the morbid growth of bone.

The exciting cause is to be found in concussion, arising from the forcible impact of the feet with the hard ground in the act of galloping, when the "jar" is transmitted along the shaft of the bones, whose covering becomes irritated and inflamed. It will, therefore, be seen that in proportion as the ground is hard, and the weight carried by these juveniles is considerable, so will be the liability to injury. It is for this reason that the disorder appears during seasons of drought, when the ground is dry and resisting instead of being soft and spongy.

Symptoms

The lad who habitually rides a horse in his daily work is often the first to detect the oncoming of this disease. He recognizes a growing sense of discomfort arising out of a change in the animal's action and spring. Then it soon becomes obvious that he is going short in his stride, and some difficulty is experienced in setting him going and keeping up the pace. Examination of the legs at this time reveals more or less heat and soreness along the course of the canons, and especially in front. Later, the legs become somewhat enlarged from the knee downward, and present a rounded appearance. The fetlocks are "filled", and the swollen parts "pit", when pressed upon, like soft dough. Lameness now appears in all the paces, and the animal moves with a stiff, sore gait, which becomes aggravated from day to day when work is continued.

Treatment

In slight cases it may be sufficient to ease a horse in his work, give him a mild dose of physic, transfer him for a time from the hard turf to the tan, and irrigate the legs two or three times daily with cold water. If, however, the patient has no pressing engagement his work should be reduced to walking, with as little weight on his back as possible. In more severe attacks it is better to throw the horse out of work altogether, and apply hot bandages to the legs during a course of physic.

When the inflammatory action has been subdued, then a mild blister may be applied to the shins from the knee downwards, and repeated in ten days or a fortnight, and again, after a similar period, if circumstances appear to call for it. Iodide of potassium in 1 or 2 dram doses may be given in the food morning and evening for a week, but not until the physic has ceased to act. The medicine should then be discontinued for two or three days, and renewed again for another week, and the same course may be repeated if necessary. In all cases where horses evince the slightest signs of sore shins the weight should be promptly reduced, the pace let down to walking, and, as far as practicable, the work should be done on tan, in cold wet bandages. Many a severe attack may be warded off and horses kept in work by the early adoption of proper measures.

In some instances, as the result of neglect, these cases assume a chronic character. The shins become considerably enlarged and covered with a rough bony growth, while the periosteum is much thickened, and continues to lay down bone on the shaft of the canons. Here firing with the pointed iron may prove serviceable after a run of two or three weeks at grass in a damp meadow.

After an attack of this disease horses should not resume work too early, and care should be taken that the ground is soft, and the pace for a time slow. Cold wet bandages should be worn for a week or two after work has been commenced, and occasional irrigation with cold water will assist in imparting tone to the legs.