228 THE FARMER'S AND 



hot, or let him drink it freely in that state. If the water 

 is quite warm, it will not hurt him. 



Do not permit the smith, when he shoes your horse, to 

 out out any portion of the soft part, or what is called the 

 frog of the foot this is apt to gradually draw in the quar- 

 ters of the hoof and cripple the animal and is recom- 

 mended only by the smooth appearance which it gives to 

 the bottom of the foot, which is more apt to catch a round 

 stone in the shoe than otherwise. 



Do not feed with grain, especially corn, when a horse 

 is warm, or very much fatigued ; if you do, you may 

 founder and ruin him. 



If you want your horse to last, and your carriage also, 

 drive slowly. 



Do not keep a horse too fat, or too lean, as either dis- 

 qualify him for hard labor. 



The more kindness and good temper is extended to a 

 horse, the better will he behave in return. Bad temper 

 and bad habits come gradually from bad usage. 



DOCKING HORSES. 



A handsome flowing mane and tail constitute the most 

 graceful and useful appendages to this noble animal, and 

 are essential both to his strength and comfort. None but 

 a narrow-minded, ignorant man, would have in the first 

 place ventured on such a violation of vested rights ; and 

 none but blockheads or jockeys, destitute of the better hu- 

 man feelings, could have perpetrated or tolerated the in- 

 novation. 



It is impossible that a docked horse should be as vigor- 

 ous and strong as he would have been, had this operation 

 never been performed. A division of the strong tendons 

 and muscles that have their termination in the tail, must 

 of necessity inflict an irreparable injury. A few years 



