67 



whalebone. Its quality depends on the 

 condition of the blood of the animal at the 

 time of its formation. As it was formed, 

 so it remains, and it can only be modified 

 by conditions that effect its nutrition as 

 it is gradually being constructed. 



And now we can truthfully say, — ^'' a 

 pede herculem^^ — as the foot is, so is the 

 horse. If by securing and maintaining a 

 perfectly healthy environment for our ani- 

 mal, we get perfect feet, all the other tissues 

 of the body will share in the betterment. 



But no one must suppose that a horse 

 kept as I have described will go without 

 shoes in a few weeks, or months. If used^ 

 he must be kept shod for at least a year, 

 because it takes that length of time to 

 grow an entire hoof, and he must not be 



