160 PASTURING. 



The soil. Mucb has been said about the influence of the 

 soil upon the horse's feet and legs, and much exaggeration of 

 assertion has been set afloat. Horses reared in soft, marshy- 

 pastures have large flat feet, low at the heels, and weak every- 

 where. On dry ground the hoof is hard, strong, and small, 

 the sole concave, and the heels high. But to impart any 

 peculiar character to the hoof, or to produce any change upon 

 it, a long and continuous residence upon the same kind of 

 soil is necessary. A period of six months may produce some 

 change; but it is so insignificant in general that it is not 

 apparent. 



The low temperature at which the feet and legs are kept in 

 a moist pasture has probably some influence, though not very 

 great, in al^atiiig inflammation in those parts. The legs be- 

 come finer and free from tumors and gourdiness ; but they 

 would improve nearly or quite as soon, and as much, in a 

 loose box. 



When the pastures are hard and baked by the sun, unshod 

 horses are apt to break away the crust, and they often come 

 home with hardly horn enough to hold a nail. Feet that have 

 never been shod suffer less; others should, as a general thing, 

 be preserved by light shoes, especially on the fore feet ; kick- 

 ing horses, when shod behind, are rather dangerous among 

 others. 



It has been supposed that the act of grazing throws con- 

 siderable stress upon the tendons of the fore legs, and ulti- 

 mately impairs them. This has been urged against grazing 

 hunters ; but so far as sound legs are concerned, there seems 

 to be no foundation for the supposition, and it certainly has 

 never been proved. 



