54 HORSE-MASTERSHIP 



often you will decide to leave the case to 

 Nature, and when you are asked by curiosity- 

 hunters as to what will be the effect, you 

 will reply in the words of the wise physician, 

 *' A few days will tell a great deal." 



So much, then, for the results of ordinary 

 accidents and wounds. I still must tell you 

 something of the care of the feet, and the 

 avoidance of saddle wounds and sores on the 

 horse. With feet I have had a lot of trouble 

 in the early days of my training — sore, hot feet, 

 cracked heels, brittle feet, and even actual 

 lameness and loss of many races. Here, 

 again, I have learned that the secret of 

 health is perfect cleanliness, and the removal 

 of every sign of moisture from the hoof and 

 heels, and otherwise a policy of non-inter- 

 ference with Nature's ways. All the cutting 

 and paring of hoof and frog simply does 

 harm. Put on good shoes if you are doing 

 road work. A horse worked on grass alone 

 is better without any shoes, and of course 

 you will, whenever possible, remove all shoes 

 when you are turning your horse out on 



