WINTERING. 477 



may be left out to advantage. By leaving the head-collar 

 on, the capture of a loose horse is facilitated. Some oats 

 shaken in a sieve or measure often induce a wary horse to 

 come within reach, or he may be caught by being allowed to 

 follow a more quiet companion into the stable. 



" The influence of soil upon the horse's feet and legs has been much 

 spoken of, but it has been much exaggerated. Horses reared in soft, marshy 

 pastures have large, flat feet, low at the heels and weak everywhere. On 

 dry ground the hoof is hard, strong and small, the sole concave, and the 

 heels high, but to confer any peculiar character upon the hoof, or produce 

 any change upon it, a long and continued residence upon the same soil is 

 necessary. A period of six months does, perhaps, produce a change, but 

 in general it is so insignificant that it is not apparent." 



" When the pastures are hard, baked by the sun, unshod horses are apt to 

 break away the crust, and they often come home with hardly horn enough to 

 hold a nail. Feet that have never been shod suffer less ; others should, in 

 general, be preserved by light shoes, especially on the fore feet. Kicking 

 horses, when shod behind, are rather dangerous among others." John 

 Stewart, " Stable Economy" pp. 308, joy. 



WINTERING. 



Many owners having no occasion to use their horses in 

 winter prefer to board them out instead of selling them at 

 the close of the season. Unfortunately for the horse, and 

 for the owner it may be added, the place selected is seldom 

 chosen on account of its facilities or advantages, but oftener 

 because the rate charged by some unscrupulous livery stable 

 keeper or ignorant farmer is a dollar or two less per month 

 than that asked by reliable care-takers. Happily the better 

 accommodations offered by country clubs, gentlemen farmers 

 and respectable breeders is depriving such rascals and dul- 

 lards of the opportunities to cheat the horse's stomach in 

 order to gratify their own. The payment of a fair price 



