130 HOW TO EDUCATE HORSES. 



When we say a horse overreaches, we mean that 

 the horse, owing to the propelling power of the hind 

 feet, cannot get the fro»t feet out of the way quick 

 enough. Now, to remto!y(r^i^, have your horse shod 

 with the toe-weight shoe onrttre^r ont feet. Thus, hav- 

 ing four ounces more on the toe than on the back, the 

 power is equalized. Have a wide web shoe on the out- 

 side foot and a narrow-web shoe on the inside. The 

 philosophy of this is that by putting toe-weight on 

 the horse's front feet you give him more knee action, 

 and by putting side-weight on the hind foot you 

 spread his hind feet out when the horse picks them 

 up. This will stop them from overreaching if prop- 

 erly done. The foot must be pared perfectly level. 

 I also recommend this toe-weight shoe for a horse 

 that stumbles. He does this because he has not the 

 proper knee action — sometimes because he is too lazy, 

 which the driver will understand. 



If you have a horse whose foot is badly contracted 

 in the spring of the year, apply the half shoes called 

 toe-tips. Place them on the horse's front feet, leav- 

 ing the full frog pressure. They should be made 

 cut down at the end of the shoe, leaving the heel of 

 the foot perfectly level with the shoe. Do not have 

 it slanted down, as a great many do, with a knife, but 

 have it cut right off square with the heel to cor- 

 respond. In poulticing, in order to soften up this 

 foot, if the foot is dry, use the following preparation: 

 Linseed meal, one quart; charcoal, one pint; raw 

 onions, one quart. Mix all together, with hot water, 

 and make up as a poultice. Now take a piece of 

 blanket, about a foot or a foot and a half square. 

 Put the poultice in the middle of it, and step the 

 horse's foot into it, bringing up the cloth around the 

 ankle. Do this every twelve hours for five applica- 



