CHAPTER XIX 



DISEASES AFFECTING THE FEET 



There is no exemption of the hunter as regards 

 the diseases affecting the feet so common 

 amongst other horses, though it is a noteworthy- 

 fact, that the conditions under which hunters 

 are kept, seem to be more favourable than in 

 the case of some other horses. Moreover, most 

 of the hunter's work is confined to soft ground, 

 so that the effect of concussion is less likely 

 to exercise its pernicious influence in this 

 particular variety of horse. Unless a hunter 

 has sound feet, it will never be of a great deal 

 of use. Bad shoeing is responsible for many 

 troubles of the feet, as most horsemen are well 

 aware, whilst negligence on the part of the 

 groom, in some instances, plays a similar part. 

 There are some diseases which are perma- 

 nent, others of but a temporary nature, though 



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