18 BREEDING OP 



from the surface of the road. I have known a stallion 

 which had such feet to reproduce colts about half of 

 which could not be driven on macadamized roads for 

 any length of time without going lame from bruises to 

 the soles, or a cracking of the thin, dry horn at the 

 quarter of the foot. A large foot is not so objectionable 

 from a utilitarian point of view, but may be somewhat 

 objectionable in race horses. It may be said, however, 

 that a large foot is seldom to be considered an objection 

 in an animal that is otherwise suitable for breeding 

 purposes. Many horses that travel apparently sound 

 are seen with contracted heels, and although this is 

 frequently due to bad management of the feet, there 

 are many cases in which horses are predisposed to this 

 condition from thin, weak horn. When it is proposed 

 to breed from an animal with contracted heels, and the 

 cause cannot be plainly traced to bad management of 

 the feet, including bad shoeing, the subject should be 

 excluded for breeding purposes. Be sure that both 

 dam and sire have well formed and good sized feet. 



NAVICULAR DISEASE. Although this is not such 

 a common disease in this country as it is in Great 

 Britain, in consequence of our having softer roads, yet 

 it is frequent enough, especially in animals past middle 

 age that have been driven for any length of time in the 

 vicinity of towns, where there are stone pavements or 

 macadamized roads. Do not breed from any animal 

 that is the subject of navicular disease. All authorities 

 agree that it tends to be strongly inherited. 



OPHTHALfllA. In March,1893,a gentleman sent, for 

 my examination (requesting a written report), a beauti- 

 fully formed cob mare that was then suffering from an at- 

 tack of inflammation of the eyes, and had been the subject 



