135 

 dirFerently formed as the feet of men. One 

 horse has- a long foot, and pointed at the toe; 

 the foot of another is formed Hke that of a 

 mule; a third has a small hoof, a fourth a 

 large one, and a fifth has a foot perfectly- 

 formed in every part. One horse has a fine 

 open heel, another a narrow, close, and con- 

 tracted heel, a third has too high an heel, and 

 another too low; some horses have soles too 

 low and flat, and rather convex than concave, 

 as they ought to be. The formation of the 

 feet of young horses is more similar than after 

 they have been frequently shod and worked 

 hard. If too great a weight has been laid on 

 their backs when young, they are obliged to 

 exert themxselves before their joints are pro- 

 perly fastened, which spoils their shapes, and 

 particularly their feet and hoofs. A pressure 

 on their back at too early an age forces their 

 soles downwards, and gives them a convex: 

 appearance, which they retain ever after, or at 

 least makes the soles too flat. Indeed horses 

 that have arrived at a proper age have their 

 feet spoiled by too hard work. These varieties 

 of shape and form, therefore, ought to be ob- 

 served, and carefully remedied by farriers aa 



