Management and Feeding of Heavy Horses 105 



and to cause trouble when brought first into the ring. It is a good 

 plan to try to accustom an excitable horse to some of the same 

 kind of noises at home that he is likely to be disturbed by when 

 taken to a show. Some of the Cl>'desdales are very excitable, 

 more so than the Shires or Suffolks. After he has well learned his 

 lesson on the quiet, he might be further trained in a paddock where 

 some colts are running loose, and a noisy boy or two introduced to 

 get up a lot of noise and excitement among the colts. 



A course of training under these circumstances may get him 

 partly accustomed to the excitement, so that he will not be taken 

 so much by surprise when he comes into the ring. It is a great dis- 

 appointment to an exhibitor if his colt, through nervousness, forgets 

 all his training at home, shows himself at a disadvantage in the 

 ring, and has to take a lower place on account of his bad manners. 

 It is also painful to see a good colt shown in a careless manner, 

 brought into the ring and allowed to jog round in a sluggish, 

 happy-go-lucky manner, with a happy-looking, easygoing lout at 

 his head, who has taken no trouble to drill the colt or to smarten 

 himself 



Of course if the horse is not to be exhibited at a show, it may 

 not be necessary to take quite so much trouble and spend so much 

 time on him. Still, if he has to be offered for hire, it may pay well 

 to show him in good condition and well trained in action and 

 manners. A deputation of judges will not readily take a fancy to 

 an animal that does not show to advantage in style or action; 

 whereas a horse that makes the most of himself, moves straight 

 and true, carries himself well, and has pleasant manners will at 

 once prove attractive, and may command a better price than one 

 that was carelessly brought out, even if a better animal. 



The feet of the stallion must also be carefully watched, shoes 

 regularly removed, and any tendency to erratic growth checked. 

 This care of the feet must of course be at all times taken by those 

 in charge of the horse; still more is it required at this time, so that 

 his feet may be in perfect order for the travelling of the season. 

 It is very annoying to have a horse go lame during the season, and 

 perhaps be held up a long way from home. A skilful blacksmith 

 is of great value in a stud of heavy horses in keeping their feet in 

 good form. Any blacksmith can shoe a horse with good tough 

 well-formed hoofs, but it requires one with some skill to shoe a 

 horse with a narrow heel and get it to develop width, or to shoe 

 one with a low sole and avoid lameness, or to shoe a brittle hoof 

 and fix the shoe that it will not be off before he reaches the end of 

 the lane. A good blacksmith may improve poor feet, and a care- 



