258 THE HORSE 



A foundered horse steps on his heels; a horse with 

 navicular disease steps on his toes, and the shoes will 

 be worn down accordingly. Founder almost invariably 

 attacks both forefeet equally; but in navicular disease 

 one foot is usually worse than the other, and some- 

 times only one foot is affected. The affected foot is 

 colder than the other. 



A foundered horse goes down hill about as well as 

 up hill; but a horse with navicular disease goes much 

 worse down hill than up. Navicular disease, when it 

 begins, is intermittent. The horse may be lame one 

 day, and not the next; or he may go lame for a part of 

 the distance, and appear to be sound for the rest. 



A horse with navicular disease "points" the lame 

 foot when he is standing; that is, he advances it, throw- 

 ing his weight on the other foot, and if both feet are 

 affected, he will point first one, and then the other. 

 A foundered horse usually stands with both forefeet 

 somewhat advanced. This attitude, indeed, should al- 

 ways raise a suspicion as to the soundness of the 

 horse. 



There Is no cure for navicular disease, but It can be 

 alleviated somewhat by soaking the foot in cold water, 

 or by tying wet rags of wool around the coronet, and 

 in other like ways. 



The shoeing of a horse with navicular disease is very 

 Important. The foot should be shod so as to protect 

 the sole and the frog, the navicular bone being imme- 

 diately underneath the frog. A leather or metal pad 

 is useful for this purpose. Calks should be dispensed 

 with. If possible, but If they are necessary to prevent 



