108 STABLE MANAGEMENT. 



does not collect mud and dirt like the others do, and 

 it does not become hard like those boots made out of 

 leather, which, unless carefully looked to and kept 

 soft with soap (sabon) or dubbing (momrogan), are 

 liable to cut horses badly. The only care required 

 in putting on the Irish boot is not to tie it too tight, 

 or the tapes may cut the skin. Some pieces of horn 

 hanging loose, that are being cast off from the sole 

 and frog in the natural process of growth, are often 

 seen. These are very likely to collect dirt and 

 moisture, and if they do they should be removed, 

 but otherwise be left alone. They can generally be 

 pulled off with the fingers, a piece of stick, or the 

 hoof-picker. As a rule, in the plains of India the 

 majority of horses do not require shoes on their hind 

 feet, unless the roads are mended with stone, or the 

 climate is very damp and the horn gets soft. In the 

 rainy season, if much work is being done, they per- 

 haps then require shoeing behind, but in the dry 

 season the majority go just as well without. In the 

 hills, where the paths are rocky and stony, horses, 

 of course, require shoeing behind. Unlike the 

 European, the native smith shoes what is called 

 " cold," that is, he has a number of shoes in sizes 

 from which he selects one as near a fit as possible, 

 which he hammers into shape on a small anvil 



