SHOEING. it^ 



tlie feet ; but as it is not my prefent piirpofc 

 to animadvert upon the diffufe remarks of 

 others, I (hall confine i,nyfelf to practical 

 obfervations of my own. The falutary effedls 

 of plentifully oiling, and nightly flopping, 

 the fubftantial, firm, black and white brittle 

 hoofs, defer ibed in a former page, are too 

 firmJy eftablifhed by long and attentive expe- 

 rience, to render oppofition (from any au- 

 thority whatever) worthy a momentary con- 

 iideration or condefcending reply. 



A comparative ftate of the hoof that is 

 carefully managed in this way, w^ith one in 

 its Hate of nature, (more particularly in the 

 hot and dry months of fummer) will evi- 

 dently befpeak the advantage and neatnefs of 

 fuch care and attention. In one, the hoof 

 is always in a ftate of pliable uniformity; 

 in the other, a harili, conftant, and irregular 

 fcaling of the fole, an almofl inflexible ri- 

 gidity of the hoof in flioeing, and moft fre- 

 quently very large and dangerous cracks that 

 feparate the fo/e from the fj^og on both fides ; 

 leaving ample room on either for the infinu- 

 ation of fand, gravel, or other injurious ar- 

 ticles 



