CARE OF THE FEET 87 



Washing the foot three or four times a day will 

 usually suffice in ordinary weather, but not in a dry 

 time. Climate has a great deal to do with the con- 

 dition of horses' feet. Many a horse goes lame as 

 the result of a long-continued drought in summer when 

 the roads and the atmosphere are both deprived of 

 their ordinary moisture. There is much less trouble 

 with horses' feet in England than here, and this dif- 

 ference is, no doubt, accounted for by the peculiarly 

 moist climate of England. 



Another means of supplying water to the foot is fur- 

 nished by the soaking tub. In the case of inflamed, 

 injured, or diseased feet the soaking tub is invaluable; 

 but, except in cases of extreme dryness, I think it should 

 never be used for a sound foot. The first effect of the 

 soaking tub is to soften the foot, but the second effect 

 is to harden it, and to make it brittle, because all the 

 natural oil is soaked out of the foot. For this reason, 

 if the soaking tub is used, its use should be followed 

 by the application of oil or ointment of some kind. 



Too much water is as bad as too little. For example, 

 drive your horse a moderate distance on muddy roads, 

 and the next day his feet will be in good, soft con- 

 dition; but drive him a considerable distance in a hard 

 rain, when the roads are full of water, and the next 

 day his feet will be hard and dry and in need of oil or 

 ointment. 



A convenient way of supplying moisture to the foot 

 is to use one of the many hoof ointments that are on 

 the market for this purpose. These, however, are 

 expensive, and I have found that a good and cheap sub- 



