SHOEING YOUNG HORSES. 105 



existence ; hence it becomes a paramount duty that the training 

 and gaiting of horses be primarily conducted within this scope, 

 a prerequisite of which is the observance of certain rational de- 

 tails appertaining to the aifairs of shoeing which all horsemen 

 should understand. 



Care bestowed in Colthood. — While attention is being 

 continually drawn to the foot of the horse after it is shod, few 

 references are made to the hoof of the shoeless colt. The lat- 

 ter is, by some peculiar oversight, left to take care of itself, as if 

 it required no preparation whatever in the early stages of its 

 existence. Consequently the limbs and action of many young 

 colts are impaired from neglect of proper supervision of the 

 most important of all his aids to locomotion — his hoofs. I have 

 visited many breeding establishments of racing stock, where the 

 last consideration of the proprietors appeared to be the import- 

 ance of supplying conditions under which the feet of their 

 youngsters could have every chance of proper development. 

 Many times there may be seen promising two- or three-year olds- 

 with ragged, uneven feet, growing into all shapes but the right, 

 when the most simple early attention would avert disease or de- 

 formity. If the bearing surface of the young animal's foot is. 

 uneven, it most surely results in weakness of the limb or visible 

 deformity when he arrives at maturity. Defective hoofs are of 

 as a serious nature in the immature colt as in the full-grown or 

 aged horse, and as much to be counteracted as in the horse reg- 

 ularly shod by the expert shoeing smith, and neglect may bring 

 regret at a later day ; for, in the case of the former, permanent 

 injury is the result of inattention. He may grow in or out at 

 the toes, either calf kneed, bent kneed, or knock kneed, just as 

 the bearing surface of the hoof maintains its relations to the 

 joints, ligaments and tendons of the limb of which it is the base. 



First Trial of Shoes. — The horse's hoof is after all a good 



