STABLE MANAGEMENT 265 



Of course, there are times when it is necessary to 

 have recourse to the village blacksmith, as, for 

 example, when we lose a shoe in the hunting-field, 

 though this ought not to happen if your groom has 

 carefully examined the horse's shoes on the previous 

 day. But in any case see that the blacksmith does 

 not pare away the sole or the frog of the foot, ragged 

 parts excepted, which he will assuredly do if you 

 give him the chance. The difficulty which the 

 majority of hunting men have to contend against 

 is that in country districts good farriers are few and 

 far between ; in which case both master and man 

 should take a few lessons in farriery, so that either of 

 them could superintend the shoeing at the village 

 forge. 



I am strongly averse to the practice of allowing 

 grooms to physic horses without first consulting their 

 masters, nor do I think that a master should allow 

 the administration of physic where it appears that 

 some specific complaint exists without first consult- 

 ing a veterinary surgeon, for in regard to horses, 

 verily " a little knowledge is a dangerous thing." 

 In the case of our forefathers it was different, for 

 they were often several miles away from a veterinary 

 surgeon, and were obliged to exercise their own 

 discretion. Now, the medicine cupboard in the 

 saddle-room should contain only the very simplest 

 specifics, which had better be supplied by the 

 veterinary surgeon. These should consist chiefly 

 of the materials for forming purgative balls, for 



