44 THE HORSE. 



little more trouble in cleaning ; pa.-ticularly, if ho 

 should be a tliick, long-coated one, and horses of 

 this description are iriost liable, from shortness of 

 breath, to feel a quick pace. Not but that it would 

 be much better, if, when the horse begins to per- 

 spire, the pace were slackened, until be becomes 

 cool again : for when the animal is urged into a 

 violent sweat, the probable issue is a violent fever, 

 if profuse perspiration does not come to his relief. 

 The danger is where this secretion is not in propor- 

 tion to the exercise the horse has undergone. 



Even when in a state of perfect tranquillity, with 

 the pulse at its ordinary beat of about forty vibra- 

 tions to the minute, the insensible perspiration of a 

 horse, in good condition, is very great. The loss of 

 so much moisture must be repaired, or there would 

 be too considerable a draught upon the fluids, and a 

 proper degree of health could not be maintained. 

 But the pores are again replenished by an adequate 

 quantity of water. As well might a horse be ex- 

 pected to bear up against all the wear and tear 

 occasioned by his work, without food, as to suppose 

 he could endure a waste of fluids without injury, 

 unless something supplied their place. 



SHOEING. 



Where the feet or hoofs are very strong, it is 

 always best to drive the horse through the summer 

 months, with only tips, or half or three-quarter shoes, 

 as the case may require. When the latter is used, 

 the inside heel is to be free from iron. Corns and 

 thrushes are often cured by this treatment, the heels 

 much opened, and the feet altogether improved. But 

 to no kind of foot is it of equal advantage as to the 

 very strong, crusted, contracted, brittle foot, which 

 clever stablemen, in order to make it last for ever, 

 have spoiled by their oils and their stoppings ; thereby 



