Book VII. CRITERIA OF HORSES. 929 



as possible by making the tread equal ; to which purpose, thicken the inner heel and 

 turn up the outer. This is better than lowering the outer heel to receive the shoe, which 

 still leaves l)oth the tread and foot uneven. 



5934. The racing shoe, or plate i is one made as light and slender as will bear the 

 weight of the horse, and the operations of forging, grooving, and punching : to enable 

 it to do which, it ought to be made of the very best Swedish iron. Three, or at most 

 four nails, are sufficient on each side ; and to avoid the interfering of the hind with the 

 fore feet, the heels of the fore shoes are made as short as they can safely be. As racers 

 are shod in the stable, tlie owners should be doubly careful that the plate is an exact fit. 

 Many pairs ought to be brought and tried before any are suffered to be put on, and 

 which is more important than is at first considered. 



5935. Grass shoes or tips are very short pieces placed on the toe alone, in horses 

 turned to grass in summer ; at which time they are essentially necessary to guard the 

 fore feet, which otherwise become broken away, and irretrievably injured. They should 

 be looked at occasionally to see that they do not indent themselves into the 

 soles. 



5936. Frost shoes, (fig. 628 a) have the ends turned up to prevent 

 the foot from sliding ; unless the turning up or calkin be hardened, 

 they soon wear level and require to be renewed, to tlie injury of the foot 

 by such frequent removals. To remedy this, many inventions have 

 been tried ; one of the best of these is that of Dr. Moore, in which 

 the frost clip is made distinct and moveable by means of a female 

 screw (6) worked in it, to which a knob or wedge (c), and male 

 screw (rf) are adapted ; a key (e) being used for fixing or remov- 

 ing it. 



5937. High calkins, or turn ups, however objectionable in ge- 

 neral shoeing, yet, in precipitous counties, as those of Devonshire, Yorkshire, and 

 of Scotland, &c., are absolutely necessary for their draught horses. It greatly obviates 

 the evils of uneven pressure, if a calkin be also put to the toe ; and it would be 

 still better were these calkins steeled, particularly the fore ones. 



5938. The shoeing of diseased feet is necessarily very various, and is too often left to 

 the discretion of the smith, by which the evils themselves are greatly aggravated, if he 

 be ignorant. The most prominent alterations for these purposes will be found described 

 under the respective diseases of the feet requiring them. 



5939. Horse pattens are in use by some cultivators who occupy soft or mossy soils. 

 Those esteemed the best are constructed of alder or elm, and are fixed to the hoof by 

 means of three links and a staple, through each of which passes a leathern strap that 

 goes twice round the hoof, and is fastened by a buckle. The staple is placed behind 

 the patten, which is ten inches one way, by ten and a half the other. The links are 

 about three inches in length, and rivetted through pieces of hoop iron to prevent the 

 wood from splitting. After numerous trials it has been found that pattens made in tliis 

 way, answer the purpose better than any other kind. [Farm. Mag.) 



Sect. IX. Criteria of the Qualities of Horses for various purposes. 



5940. The general criteria of the qualities if a horse are derived from inspection and 

 trial. His outward appearance among judges affords a pretty just criterion of liis powers, 

 and a moderate trial usually enables tlie same judgment to decide on the disposition to 

 exercise such powers. 



5941. The criteria of a horse derived from his color have been already noticed. (5629.) 

 As a general principle dark are preferable to liglit horses, except in the instance of 

 black, which has fewer good horses within its range, particularly in the lighter breeds, 

 than any other. Grey lu^rses are also, in some degree, an exception to tlie rule ; for 

 there are many good greys. Bay and brown are always esteemed colors. 



5942. The criteria of action are derived from a due consideration of the form gene- 

 rally, and of the limbs particularly ; as well as from seeing the horse perform his paces 

 in hand. 



5943. The criteria of hardihood are derived from the form of the carcase, which should 

 be circular, or barrelled ; by which, food is retained, and strength gained, to perform 

 what is required. Such horses are also generally good feeders. 



5944. The criteria of spirit, vigor, or mettle, as it is termed, are best derived from 

 trial. It should always be kept in mind, that a hot fiery horse is as objectionable as a 

 horse of good courage is desirable. Hot horses may be known by their disinclination to 

 stand still ; by their mettle being raised by the slightest exercise, especially when in 

 company. Such horses seldom last long, and under accident are impetuous and 

 frightened in the extreme. A good couraged horse, on the contrary, moves with readi- 

 ness as well alone as in company : he carries one ear forward and one backward; is at- 

 tentive and cheerful, loves to be talked to, and caressed even while on his journey ; and 



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