72 HOW TO JUDGE A HORSE. 



T\'hicli ought to be cloue twice or tliree times every 

 week, but slioiald be carefully removed before tlie 

 Lorse goes to work, or, if the horn is uaturally 

 brittle. If the crack is ouly partial, it generall}- 

 produces uo lameness, but, if it extends all the way 

 down to the sole, the case becomes serious. It 

 takes a long time to grow dowu agaiu, and the 

 -animal should not be used on hard ground. The 

 liorse should be shod in such a way that the injured 

 part does not rest on the shoe so as to prevent 

 pressure. 



Corns are found on the sole of the front hoofs, 

 in the inner angle formed by the crust of the hoof 

 and the bar, and are caused by contracted feet, or 

 by pressure of the shoo, or hy gi-avel lodged under 

 the shoe. They are signs of neglect either from 

 not removing the gravel or stone as soon as the 

 uorso returns to the stable, or from bad shoeing. 

 Th'^y produce sometimes considerable lameness. 

 Such horses are unsafe and should be rejected. 



Fhd Ihofs. The sole, instead of forming an arcli 

 upward, as in a sound hoof, is perfectly level with 

 the ground. If the sole is strong, the hor.se niaj' 

 perform his work well enough on smooth ground, 

 but, on uneven, stony roads, they sutler great 2>aiu 

 and are absolutely unsafe. They frequently degen- 

 erate into fidl hi>ff. The sole descends below tlio 



