108 SCIENTIFIC HORSESHOEING. 



a ragged and uneven manner, which severely cuts and lacerates 

 the tongue and cheeks, or, by a driver repeatedly lugging on 

 one rein or the other, hard, sharp, spur-like points are formed 

 or irregularly grown on the borders of the teeth, which become 

 an exciting cause of injury to the gums and membranes of the 

 mouth, impairing the natural processes of mastication and con- 

 tributing at the same time to a bad way of going; also, the ani- 

 mal may suft'er from toothache, due to a displaced crown of a 

 temporary molar, or from ulceration, which will cause it to 

 champ fretfully upon the bit and lurch to one side in such a sud- 

 den manner that he "looses his feet," by becoming bad in his 

 action and tangled in his gait. If a horse pulls his head and 

 neck out of line with the median plane of his body the hind 

 limb on that side is correspondingly misdirected, and its foot 

 is forced to land between the front ones instead of in line with 

 them, this cross-liring naturally impairs the steadiness of his gait 

 and injuries are liable to occur from it. If a humane treatment 

 of the teeth is pursued by people who own horses they will ob- 

 viate these changes of locomotion, and at the same time be 

 amply repaid by the improved appearances of their animals 

 through proper mastication of their food and in their general 

 order of movement. 



Handling Young Horses. — In gaiting young horses, much 

 lies in the understanding how to equip and handle them. A 

 driver or trainer can make or unmake the " thoroughbred close 

 up," as he is wise to see that which is good, proves it worth, and 

 holds fast to much that is tried, until it grows from the stage of 

 experiment to law of permanent action. A horse may have 

 plenty of spirit and yet be free from the undesirable habits of 

 shying, breaking his gait and losing his balance, if the reins are 

 made to deliver their right message. You might take a good 

 horse, properly shod, and handle him like some cranky drivers 

 do, and you could never judge just how a horse would best han- 



