42 THB HORSE. 



STUMBLING. 



When tliis is not the consequence of malformation 

 of the horse, it is to be prevented ; and even if the 

 make of the animal be such that he cannot avoid 

 falling vv^hen he is leg-wearied, it is to be relieved, 

 and leg-weariness eased, by, attention to the prece- 

 ding observations on food, mashes and water. The 

 strength and courage of a horse are sustained by a 

 sufficient quantity of nutritive food. Mashes serve 

 to keep off that low fever, which, if not prevented, 

 ultimately ruins him. But water has more than all 

 to do with the prevention of fever, by assisting the 

 proper digestion of the food. What pain and fever 

 will not indigestion produce ! Yet the horse is de- 

 nied the proper use of the important functions of the 

 stomach, by being stinted of his cheapest aliment, 

 water. At the hazard of a little repetition, it must 

 be repeated, that water dilutes the blood and fluids, 

 and by promoting the natural secretions, is most 

 important in preventing fever. No horse will become 

 painfully costive, if due attention be paid to him in 

 this particular ; and here again, every one must be 

 sensible that the regularity of the bowels is essential 

 to the preservation of health. Now, horses subjected 

 to good treatment in the way prescribed, will be 

 infinitely less liable to that slow fever which is the 

 sure precursor of inflammation of the feet. But this 

 disease once generated, the poor horse is obliged 

 to step short and on his toes, as well as often to drop 

 from sheer pain at every stone he steps upon; when, 

 if he happen to be leg- weary at the same time, from 

 long toil,, down he goes, to the great annoyance and 

 mortification of his owner. 



When a horse is first observed to stumble, stop- 

 ping and serge round the feet (as described at page 

 20) should be tried. Give him a short allowance of 



