86 THE HORSE 



the horse with a rubber pad. The rubber or leather pad 

 is extremely useful for two other reasons, first, it saves 

 some jar and concussion, and secondly, and most im- 

 portant, the tar and oakum (or other like substance) 

 which is always interposed between the pad and the 

 foot prevents the foot from becoming hard and dry. 



Moisture Is essential to sound feet. There Is a 

 natural oil in the foot itself, and, moreover, when the 

 horse is In a natural state, the frog receives moisture 

 by contact with the earth. But when the horse Is shod 

 and kept In the stable on dry floors, the foot cannot 

 receive moisture from the earth, and, besides, the loss 

 of frog-pressure, due to shoeing, diminishes the natural 

 oil In the foot. Consequently this want of moisture 

 and of oil must be supplied artificially. How can It be 

 done? The application of water Is the simplest way. 

 Horses that are always watered by being ridden into a 

 stream, for example, will never suffer from hard feet; 

 nor will a horse turned out to graze, even for a short 

 time, in the early morning when the grass Is drenched 

 with dew. 



The same result can be reached by applying water 

 by means of soaking boots, coarse towels, or rags 

 fastened around the coronet; or by means of wet moss 

 or a wet sponge held In contact with the bottom of the 

 foot by a strap or other device. If the foot Is a deep 

 or " cup " foot, the moss can be packed In by hand, and 

 will keep In place of itself. 



Cow manure Is sometimes used as a hoof packing; 

 but It Is too strong, and Is likely to produce thrush, 

 unless well mixed with earth. 



