1816 The Cornell Reading-Courses 



and thus become hard and brittle. Such a hoof should be oiled with 

 good oil or hoof ointment. This will soften the sole and make it less 

 likely to crack or break. Again, it often happens that a piece is worn 

 or broken from the side of the hoof ; this throws the weight of the body- 

 in such a manner as to bring a strain on the joints, which may cause de- 

 formity. When such breaks occur the hoof should be leveled with a 

 rasp. When horses are too closely confined in the stable the hoof grows 

 out long and, if not trimmed, will often deform the limb and make travel- 

 ing difficult. It is important, therefore, that such a foot receive proper 

 attention. 



The rate of growth of the hoof is of much importance, for it enables 

 the owner to know how long it will take a crack — such as a quarter 

 crack, side crack, toe crack, cleft, or calk — to disappear. When the 

 rate of growth of the hoof is known approximately, the length of time 

 required for such an injury to grow out is easily estimated. On the 

 average, the hoof grows a third of an inch in a month. Hind hoofs grow 

 faster than front hoofs, and unshod hoofs grow faster than those that are 

 shod. While influenced to some extent by work, exercise, climate, mois- 

 ture, and food, the time required for the horn to grow from the coronet 

 to the ground varies in proportion to the distance of the coronet from the 

 ground. The toe, therefore, grows down in ten to thirteen months (de- 

 pending on its height), the side in six to eight months, and the heel in 

 three to five months. 



BEDDING 



Bedding should always be used liberally. A horse at hard work needs 

 rest at night, and much more rest is to be obtained if the horse is given 

 a good bed. The bedding should not be permitted to become foul; foul 

 bedding not only will lessen the comfort of the animal, but also will pro- 

 mote disease. Of bedding materials, straw proves the most satisfactory; 

 when high in price it may be replaced by other materials, such as 

 shavings from the planing mill, rejected pieces of cornstalks, tanbark, 

 or leaves. Old straw is preferable to new, being drier and more elastic. 

 The more broken and bruised the straw is, the less bulk and elasticity 

 it has; hence a greater quantity is needed. 



BLANKETING 



In our climate the use of a blanket is indispensable. A horse will 

 be more efficient and will endure much longer if reasonably protected 

 against cold rains, heavy winds, and sudden changes in temperature. 

 If the horse is warm and sweating on bis arrival at the stable he should 

 not be blanketed until he has ceased to steam, nor should he be left in 

 a draft. If blanketed at once there is little opportunity for the horse 



