FROZEN GRASS— FURZE 



them and turned up without touching the hoof. Some 

 persons advocate sharp calkins, but their use necessitates the 

 shoes being removed, and therefore it is better to use studs 

 which screw into holes in the shoe by means of a key ; or 

 else square studs which can be driven into the holes by a 

 hammer. The last-mentioned provide the best preventative 

 against slipping of all, provided that they are well made. 

 (See Sprains.) 



Frozen Grass is regarded by many people as highly 

 prejudicial to the health of horses which may eat it, but if 

 the theory is correct, there would be many more cases of 

 sickness amongst animals turned out to grass than are 

 now reported. At the same time, it cannot be regarded as a 

 desirable form of food, and hence it is wise to supply the 

 horses lying out with a sufficient quantity of hay to provide 

 them with a feed in the morning. (See Turning Out.) 



Furniture. — The metal mountings of harness, such as 

 the hames, terrots, buckles, etc., are collectively alluded to 

 as the furniture. They are usually either brass or silver- 

 plated, the under parts of the more substantial pieces such 

 as the hames being generally of iron. With some cheaper 

 sets of harness nickel furniture is supplied, and it possesses 

 the merit of not requiring to be plated, but, on the other 

 hand, it never looks so well as the latter. In cases of plating, 

 however, if the work is not of the best, or very near it, hard 

 wear soon removes the coating and causes the metalwork 

 to become spotted in appearance, and consequently the best 

 workmanship, though it may cost a little more at first, will be 

 found the cheapest in the end. (See Appointments, Harness.) 



Furze is at best a poor food for horses, but it is occa- 

 sionally used in some parts of the country for cart-horses, 

 and if so should be bruised. Animals lying out in winter 

 are often compelled to eat it, in the absence of other keep, 

 which may be covered by snow, and if so they are some^ 



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