On the ]\Ianagcincnt of Horses Feet 



worthless horses are the result. Earl Pem- 

 broke points out in unmistakable language, 

 in his work on "Military Equitation," 1761, 

 the consequences which happen through the 

 opposite modes of managing horses' feet to 

 that above directed. The noble author says, 

 " that the common practice of stopping horses' 

 feet with dung is a very bad one, for the dung 

 contains a rotting quality in it. They totally 

 pare away and lay bare the inside of the 

 animal's foot, which must cause narrow heels, 

 because the hard outside of the foot will of 

 course press in when it finds no resistance, 

 the inside (sole) being cut away." 



It is still regrettable that the aphorisms of 

 so great an authority as the noble writer 

 were not attended to, when forty years after- 

 wards, attempts were made to improve the 

 whole state of things by the establishment 

 of our Veterinary College. 



As a necessaiy consequence of exposure 

 to wet, there results a nearly total loss of 

 the natural elasticity of the horn, with 

 bulging of the sole, absorption and flattening 

 of the coffin-bone, and a variety of other 

 changes, until the horse becomes a victim to 

 continued pain, and a source of loss, instead 

 of profit, to the proprietor. Feet which have 

 been exposed to the influence of a wet soft 

 soil, and of which not merely the hoof, but 

 the bones also, become flat, soft, and 

 spongy, may by proper management be re- 



stored to a state of freedom from pain and 

 lameness ; although it is to be remarked that 

 perfect structure and action cannot be restored 

 where deterioration has long prevailed and 

 deformity been protracted. The soft weak 

 hoof, with its depressed sole and lateral dis- 

 tortions, only exhibits . the counterpart of a 

 flattened and distorted coffin-bone. We can 

 afford relief and redeem properly in part, but 

 prevention is the better plan. 



A standard may be rationally laid down 

 for the management of horses' feet, not 

 taking account of shoeing, which is too 

 important, and vast a subject to be treated 

 in an incidental or subordinate way. 

 Horses should be bred on land drained and 

 variable in extent and surface, that ample 

 space be secured, with firm resisting foot- 

 hold, for developing the form and strength of 

 feet ; and thus, feeding being conformably 

 attended to, the best horses are obtained ; for 

 though we sometimes see a horse bred with 

 quality, it is rare to find other parts of the 

 system good when the feet are bad. 



Colts and young horses, of any age, 

 unshod, should have feet so perfect in form, 

 and firm in texture, that they should be able 

 to make a shoAV and display their best action 

 on a hard level road, without the requirement 

 of artificial protection to their feet. Nor will 

 horses in such case stumble or require knee- 

 caps for protection. 



[The conclusion in our next Number. ) 



