GENERAL STABLE MANAGEMENT 49 



happen ; what would have been a cut with a sharp edge 

 is only a bruise with a rounded one. It is difficult, 

 however, to get a shoeing-smith to realise the im- 

 portance of this, more especially men who are in 

 the habit of shoeing slow-moving horses. My 

 friend did not at first ; and my groom also, not 

 exercising proper supervision, within a month I had 

 two very serious over reaches, in one case a back 

 tendon being nearly severed. This caused a 

 determined reading of the riot act, since which 

 over-reaches have been practically unknown in my 

 stable, and in the few instances in which they 

 have occurred have been quite unimportant. 



It must be borne in mind that though the shoe 

 may be properly made at starting, this underedge 

 will wear sharp, and wants constantly rounding off 

 with the rasp. I cannot lay too much stress on 

 this subject, because your shoeing-smith probably 

 does not sufficiently realise its importance, and will 

 make all sorts of objections to these directions 

 being carried out. He will very likely try and 

 make out that he cannot round off a cold shoe 

 without removing it. This is all nonsense. Ke 

 can, and I strongly advise you to insist on his 

 doing so. 



Do not have your shoes too heavy. Ten to 

 twelve ounces is quite enough for any hunter's shoe 

 to weigh. 



E 



