166 A HUNTING CATECHISM 



flour and water to the consistency of thick 

 cream, and dab it on the fetlock. On trotting 

 the horse and twisting him round, some of the 

 white paste is sure to adhere to the opposite foot 

 at the spot sought for. 



There are two forms of boots that answer w^ell 

 as a protection against brushing. One is often 

 called a " Yorkshire boot," and is made out of 

 a piece of old horse rug. To be effective it 

 requires some care in cutting out. It should 

 be long enough to overlap when placed round 

 the fetlock, and the four corners should at first 

 project a little beyond the middle, when laid flat. 

 It may be fastened either with tape or a small 

 strap (which is the better plan), but whichever 

 method is chosen, the material should be sewn, 

 for two or three inches in the middle, to the rug, 

 and rather nearer the upper edge than half-way. 

 Close to the edges of the narrow sides of the rug 

 loops of tape should be placed, through which 

 the ligature will pass, and thus keep the boot 

 from drooping when in use. To adjust the boot 

 it must be placed fully upright round the fetlock, 

 with the ligature on the outside, which is then 

 fastened loose enough for the forefinger to be 

 passed under the boot ; the upper part is then 

 reversed over the ligature and neatly arranged. 

 Should it now appear there is more material 

 than necessary, a little judicious trimming with 

 a pair of scissors will soon put things right. 

 The only objection to this boot is that in deep 

 arable some mud will occasionally work into 

 lumps inside, under the ligature, and the friction 

 that ensues may make a tender place. 



This objection does not apply to the other boot 

 mentioned, which is simply two pieces of leather. 



