170 A HUNTING CATECHISM 



horses do not eat it. When peat moss is used 

 it is a good plan to place a thin layer of straw on 

 the top, for the horse to stand upon. Sea sand is 

 very objectionable, for horses are tempted to 

 swallow it, for the sake of the salt contained 

 in it. When any material is used that will 

 cake in the hoof, the middle of the bed should 

 be laid bare each day, and thrown up against 

 the sides for several hours while the horse stands 

 on the bare floor, which will prevent the horn 

 getting into a soft condition. 



The horn of the hoof begins growing at the 

 coronet (where the hair of the fetlock ceases) 

 and proceeds downwards in long fibres, which 

 form a very thin wall at first but thicker below, 

 until they reach the ground, where they form 

 a thin rim all round the hoof, and it is within 

 this thin wall the smith must drive his nails, 

 for the interior space is filled up with the 

 lamella, and the coffin bone (the bone of the 

 foot). If the nails go inward too far, lameness is 

 the result. The nails should never be allowed to 

 be driven high up, for the danger of pricking 

 the horse is so much increased ; but often a horse 

 gets pricked without any nail hole to show it, for 

 as soon as the horse has flinched the smith has 

 withdrawn the nail before it has come through 

 to the outside. If a horse goes lame, or tender, 

 after it has been shod the nails should at once 

 be drawn, and the shoe taken off, and a poultice 

 put on for a few hours. If the nails are carefully 

 examined as each one is drawn, the offending one 

 may be frequently detected at first, by being 

 slightly discoloured towards the upper end, and 

 looking moist. It may be that the nail has not 

 actually traversed through the sensitive part, but 



