.—Explained under Castration.
CUTTING in Action
,—in the manege called interfering, is lacerating the round inside projecting part of the fetlock-joint, with the edge of the shoe, upon the foot of the opposite leg. This arises much more frequently from the indifference or neglect in the owner, than from any imperfection or defect of the horse; more horses cut from being broke and put into work too young, rode too long journies in a day, or over-worked when weary, than from any cause whatever. Some horses, it is true, cut from their formation, particularly those narrow in the chest. Carriage horses, too, very frequently cut behind; but this must in a great measure be occasioned by the projecting parts and cavities in the pavement, for all which the surest footed horse existing cannot be prepared.
D.
DACE
,—a small fish, common in most rivers, where it is seen swimming near the surface, mostly in shallows, and near bridges, held in no estimation but with the common people.
DAISY-CUTTER
,—a sporting term for horses that go so near the ground, they frequently touch it with the tip of one toe or the other, and are constantly in danger of falling. A horse with broken knees may be considered of this description.
DAPPLE
.—Horses are so called who have partial variegated hues in the coat of different sizes, constituting small circles, both lighter and darker than the general colour of the horse. Such are said to be dappled; hence we have dapple bays, dapple greys, and sometimes dapple blacks.