Is poor conformation, best seen from behind the horse, in which the hocks are too close together and the feet splayed wide. Tends to produce bog spavin.
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Cradle
A light frame fitted around a horse's neck to prevent him from biting or licking wounds, blisters, bandages, etc.
A wooden or metal frame fitted on a packsaddle to take various kinds of loads.
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Cranium (Skull)
Made up of 37 bones including three small bones in each ear (auditory ossicles), which protect the brain, eyes and inner ear.
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Cream
Tthe skin is pale (pink) and the hair; mane and tail are all creamy-white colour. It is sometimes possible to distinguish white leg and face markings on this cream coat.
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Crest
The upper line of a horse's neck just under where the mane grows.
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Cretacic
Ancestors of the horse which are supposed to have had five toes on each foot.
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Crib-Biting
A vice in which the horse grasps an object (manger, stable door etc,) with his front teeth, arches his neck and usually sucks in and swallows air. This is regarded as a vice and must be disclosed when selling the horse.
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Jan
Cross-Firing
A condition in which inside of the toe or wall of a hindfoot strikes the inner quarter or under surface of the opposite forefoot. See forging.
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Crossover Surcingles
Incorporated into the rug avoiding the pressure problems that rollers can cause. They should be adjusted to hang hands' width below the horse's belly. Rugs with surcingles should be darter and shaped to fit the contours of the horse's body to help prevent the rug slipping.
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Jan
Croup
The part of a horse's back behind the saddle. Hence the French expression 'en croupe' for a person sitting behind the saddle, either on a pillion or merely on the horse's back.
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Jan
Cruciate Ligament
Is two strong, round bands in the stifle, which attach between the femur and tibia in form of X.
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Jan
Crupper
Strap running from the back of the cantle, divided where it passes under the horse's dock, which keeps the saddle from slipping forward.
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Curb
A bursal enlargement at the back of the cannon bone about 6" below the point of hock. Causes include faulty conformation or strain on the ligaments. May be the result of trauma or sprain.
Bit - is a bit with a straight mouthpiece and two hooks. These hold the curb chain, which fits into the chin groove on the lower jaw. The bit works by leverage on the lower jaw, and exerting pressure on the chin groove by means of the chain. This bit is one half of the double bridle bits.
Chain - a single or double link chain attached to the hooks on a curb bit and lying flat in a horse's chin groove.
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Jan
Curry Comb
Metal for removing grease from the body brush. Never use a metal currycomb on the horse it is only for cleaning the body brush.
Plastic - for breaking the surface of caked mud on the long hair of the grass kept horse. Press too hard with this currycomb and you will go through the hair onto the horse's skin making grooming uncomfortable for the horse. Used in conjunction with and Dandy brush these two are very effective at removing the mud from a grass kept horse.
Rubber - for removing caked dried mud from a horse kept at grass. On a stabled horse use with a circular movement to lifts grease to the surface, so it can be removed with a body brush (on the long coat only).