72 HOW TO JUDGE A HORSE. 



which ought to be clone twice or three times every 

 week, but should be carefully removed before the 

 horse goes to work, or, if the horn is naturally 

 brittle. If the crack is only partial, it generally 

 produces no lameness, but, if it extends all the way 

 down to the sole, the cise becomes serious. It 

 takes a long time to grow down again, and the 

 animal should not be used on hard ground. The 

 horse should be shod in such a way that the injured 

 part does not rest on the shoe so as to prevent 

 pressure. 



Corns are found on the sole of the front hoofs, 

 in the inner angle formed by the crust of the hoof 

 and the bar, and are caused by contracted feet, or 

 by x^ressure of the shoe, or by gravel lodged under 

 the shoe. They are signs of neglect either from 

 not removing the gravel or stone as soon as the 

 horse returns to the stable, or from bad shoeing. 

 They produce sometimes considerable lameness. 

 Such horses are unsafe and should be rejected. 



Flat Hoofs. The sole, instead of forming an arch 

 ■upward, as in a sound hoof, is perfectly level with 

 the ground. If the sole is strong, the horse may 

 perform his work well enough on smooth ground, 

 but, on uneven, stony roads, they suffer great pain 

 and are absolutely unsafe. They frequently degen- 

 erate into full liorf. The sole descends below the 



