142 DISEASES OF THE FEET AND LEGS. 



weight off your horse's back ; keep out of the way of 

 ruts and stones upon the road, and be very careful of 

 your beast when the work you are giving him is calcu- 

 lated to make him leg-weary. 



In riding, teach your bearer to depend on himself, 

 not on you : at the same time, don't leave him to him- 

 self altogether. Go gently round sharp turns, and don't 

 ride fast down-hill on the road, though on the turf or 

 in harness the pace may be accelerated with impunity. 

 Avoid inflicting sudden, injudicious, and undeserved 

 chastisement ; restrain starts or alarms ; have your 

 horses properly prepared in frosty weather ; also be 

 sure that the seat of corn is kept well pared out in 

 shoeing. If your saddle has shifted forward out of its 

 place, dismount and regirth it where it fits, so that 

 when you remount your weight will be properly placed 

 away from the shoulders. 



When the road is the only place available to have 

 your horses exercised, see that your grooms put on the 

 knee-caps. 



Splints are a well-known affection of the fore leg, 

 presenting the appearance of a bony protrusion along 

 the canon or shank, which, though unsightly, is not 

 very important, unless when lameness ensues. 



As it is not my intention to enter into professional 

 technicalities in this work, I shall merely remark that, 

 by letting the horse continue in moderate work, though 

 lame, with the application of Stevens's ointment, accord- 

 ing to the directions accompanying it, absorption of the 

 bony matter will be obtained, or, at all events, it will 

 become so far resolved that the surrounding structures 

 being able to accommodate themselves to what remains 

 of it, their action will not be interfered with, and lame- 



