VALUABLE HINTS TO FARRIERS, ETC. 345 



foot and had the mare driven. The hitching entirely disap- 

 peared on the left hind leg. This is one of the causes of 

 hitching behind was in the opposite front leg. The stride 

 of front and hind feet must be as regular as the ticking of the 

 clock. 



In many instances the horse will hitch by being speeded 

 every day, or being overdriven frequently at his highest flight 

 of speed too long at a time. More frequently he is compelled 

 to haul too much weight, and his ambition to forge ahead 

 will frequently cultivate the habit of hopping or hitching 

 as a means of overcoming the excess of weight he should 

 drag along. Such horses have been known to hitch on one 

 hind leg for a time till they get very weary and then rest 

 themselves by shifting the hopping to the other hind leg. 



In all these cases the remedy should be apparent to the 

 thoughtful farrier and owner. The feet must be dressed to 

 a mathematical level ; their weight should be regulated to 

 promote a balanced stride ; the weight burden should be 

 lessened, and the impatience of the horse should be curbed till, 

 by slow handling, he is again restored to a well-poised gait, 

 and then his speed should be gradually quickened, always 

 within the desire to hitch. 



In thus locating the various causes of hitching, the author 

 trusts that his efforts mav prove beneficial to the horse com- 

 munity. 



