320 NA.VIN ox THE HORSE. 



is called officer-toe. The extending inward of the hind-hoof 

 is called dish-hoof. 



This difficulty can be remedied by turning up the foot, and 

 paring down and thinning the side which extends too far. But 

 if this does not answer the purpose, put a half shoe on the side 

 toward which the pastern inclines. This will throw the pastern 

 in its proper position, and correct the difficulty. I have often 

 succeeded by these measures in bringing the hoof straight, and, 

 consequently, prevented a crooked pastern in the growing ani- 

 mal. The foot will most certainly be distorted if this difficulty 

 is neglected. 



TRAINING, OR BREAKING. 



This is an art which most persons attempt, but in which 

 very few succeed, for several reasons. First, they do not ap- 

 proach the unhandled horse rightly. Second, when they do 

 approach him, it is generally in such a way as to make him 

 worse than before. Third, they do not know how to tie the 

 horse in form for snaffling, as it is called in England, but in 

 this country, breaking. But there is really a great difference 

 between snaffling and breaking. The latter refers to the 

 bringing of the horse into subjection from the state of nature, 

 while the former refers to teaching him the use of the bridle 

 for the purpose for which he is intended. 



I shall now attempt to explain how a young horse should 

 be approached. And I can not too strongly urge the im- 

 portance of gentleness and kindness in this first attempt to 

 bring this interesting animal to recognize the dominion of 

 man. Man's superiority consists rather in the superiority 

 of his moral powers than in physical strength. Indeed, in 

 the latter he is but a feeble antagonist for even the horse. 

 Some will approach a horse with a whip in hand, as if to 

 chastise him, or scare him into subjection. But when the 

 untamed horse sees a man coming upon him armed in this 

 manner, his first impulse is to save himself by flight ; but 



