CRADLES. 309 



one horse often being prevented from hitting by a certain 

 type which is ineffective when appHed to a horse that ap- 

 parently interferes in the same manner. An almost endless 

 number of forms have been devised to satisfy the theories 

 of horse owners. The three most common types of protec- 

 tive boot are shown in Figs. 183, 184, 187. All boots of this 

 stamp should be so fitted and padded that they will remain 

 in the exact place where it is thought the protection is 

 required. 



In addition to the boots used on the horse when in 

 action there are several types which it has been fo'und nec- 

 essary to use on horses that, in consequence of defective 

 conformation or through habit, injure themselves when stand- 

 ing in the stall. The most common form of stable boot 

 called the calking boot is made of several plies of heavy 

 leather cut in the form of a disk about ten inches in diame- 

 ter. (See Fig. 189.) The use of this boot is to prevent the 

 horse from standing with the heels of one hind foot on the 

 hoof of the other. The second type is one that completely 

 covers the hoof and is used to prevent the covered part from 

 being injured by the iron prongs of shoes that have been 

 sharpened to prevent the horse from slipping on the snow 

 and ice. (See Fig. 188.) Another form of boot often re- 

 quired to prevent a horse from causing a boil to develop in 

 consequence of the pressure of the heels of the shoe on the 

 elbow is shown in Fig. 190. 



CRADLES. 



Cradles (see Fig. 191) are used to prevent the horse from 

 turning his head in an attempt to tear the blanket or remove 

 some irritating application. Almost the same restraint can 



