SOUNDNESS EVALUATION

96- Coughs(8-10) [26,62]

As a final test for Broken Wind, lift the head and feel the skin over his windpipe for any scars. Then squeeze the larynx hard. If the horse coughs, refer back to the other tests for Heaves.

97- Lips do not meet ( 10 )

An Undershot Jaw, or a Parrot Mouth, can cause this appearance. Double check to see if teeth meet, for any problems that make it difficult for a horse to crop grass are serious.

A lip hanging down on one side, drooling, is an indicator of an internal injury or illness.

98- Lacerated tongue(8-10 ) [11]

Aside from the fact that a scarred tongue shows that a horse has been mistreated with a severe bit, this disfigurement is also a handicap at feeding time.

99- Worn or broken teeth ( 8-10 ) [26,62,96]

As with the above, anything that interferes with a horse's ability to graze and digest grass, or grind hay and grain, makes the animal unsound and uneconomical to keep.

Horses teeth grow to replace wear. If a tooth is lost the opposite one that it meets should also be removed or the one left will grow so long the horse cannot close his mouth properly. Also, since the molars do not always come together exactly, the lower set can develop points that make chewing painful. Check an underweight horse by running your hand, palm against the cheeks, inside the mouth, back to the molars and rubbing against them with the back of the hand for projections.

Teeth that are worn, or broken, can, if the horse is young and in good health, grow back. The reason we are checking is for a vice called Cribbing, which when chronic becomes Windsucking.

Whether from boredom, or a diet deficiency, some horses chew on any untreated wood present in a stable or corral. The old joke is an owner ordering a truck load of hay, and two loads of lumber for an appetizer.

The horse that Cribs, or worse, takes hold of the wood with his teeth and sucks in vast quanities of air (and sometimes splinters) most probably will have worn teeth. Regardless, the condition of the stable doors, wood fence posts, gates, where any horse has been kept for a time should be noted.

The other possible reason for worn teeth could be grazing a pasture with sandy soiL If so, this could also lead to another problem sanded, or blocked intestines.

Another good practice anytime you have the opportunity is to inspect the horse's droppings for any undigested particles of grain, parasites, or anything else that indicates improper digestion.

After the last paragraph, you might feel that this examination has gone a bit too far. But, we still have one item to check . How old is the horse? A good 80% of the time the answer is different than claimed by the owner.