76 Stable Hints. 



is also said to be a first-rate substitute for HoUoway's Ointment. 

 Stains on brown leather can be removed by fresh hme juice. 

 To soften it, rub occasionally with a little fat from sheep's kid- 

 ney, or deer's suet, or castor- oil, but all other vegetable oils are 

 bad. To polish leather, dissolve white of eggs in spirits of wine 

 or in gin, and brush the mixture lightly over the surface requir- 

 ed. A collar should not be lined with coarse woollen cloth, as 

 it causes warbles and skin disease, but with fight smooth leather 

 or a softened lamb's skin, if the horse suffers" from the collar. 



SALT should be mixed with the grain, about two ounces a 

 day, equally divided in the feeds or else a lump of rock-salt 

 should be always left in the stall for the horse to lick when so 

 inclined. 



SHOEING. The shoe must fiist be made to fit the foot 

 without projecting anywhere beyond the hoof, and not the foot 

 rasped away to fit the shoe. Shoes must be removed, at least 

 once a month, even though not much worn, as hoofs grow con- 

 stantly. The frog should never be touched by tl\e' knife unless it 

 is diseased. Five nails sufficient, three on outer and two on inner 

 side at equal distances from the toe with none at inner heel, so 

 as not to interfere with the natural expansion at that part 

 which takes place each time the foot touches the ground. If 

 nails are too near the heels, contraction of the foot must ensue, 

 however perfect in shape the shoe may be, as the natural expan- 

 sion is presented whilst in motion. Spreading apart the ends 

 of a shoe to improve a foot is worse than useless, as the other 

 feet may catch on the ledge thus formed, and a hoof is not open- 

 ed cut by a shoe but by the position of the nails in the shoe. 

 Charlier shoes, which are merely a sort of tip, are useful for 

 contracted feet. In India, horses which have not much work 

 on hard roads are best unshod. On active service, officers can 

 purchase shoes and nails from the Commissariat Department. 



WASHING a horse should be forbidden ; hair won't dry 

 quickly, and rheiimatism, grease, &c., often ensue. Mud and 

 dirt can be removed by brush and hand far better. In hot 

 weather, standing for 10 minutes in a running stream, if dried 

 and exercised at once after it, is beneficial. 



