48 THE SHOEING OF HORSES. 



nature can produce is required by these structures for the preser- 

 vation of the parts within. The feet of wild colts should be 

 carefully inspected at least once every two months ; and all 

 irregularities of growth, if once observed, should be carefully 

 watched for the future. 



Civilised Horses. — For the preservation of the feet of civilised 

 horses, good shoeing is one — and perhaps the great — essential. 



First : Avoid all undue cutting, paring, and rasping of the 

 feet. 



Secondly : Treat the feet according to rules laid down in 

 answer to question i of the present section. Preserve, 

 if possible, the natural toughness and elasticity of the 

 horn. Horses having thin, weak feet, the application of 

 cold water by means of swabs to the wall, or bandages 

 loosely fixed to the limb, with occasionally the free use 

 of the composition recommended at page 45, will be 

 found the right course to pursue. 



Finally : The owner of a large stock of horses would find it 

 greatly to his advantage, if he occasionally had the shoes 

 removed, and his horses turned barefoot into a roomy 

 box, having a layer of sawdust spread over the floor. A 

 change of this kind, if taken advantage of, would be 

 found highly conducive to the welfare of the feet. Where 

 a large number of horses are kept, one or two of the 

 stock might be spared at a time for the purpose sug- 

 gested. 



