Book VII. 



CRITERIA OF HORSES. 



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made to sit as flat to the foot as it can safely do without pressing on the sole ; by which the great suction 

 842 in clayey grounds is much lessened. Hunting fore-shoes should also be as 



short at the heels as is consistent with safety to the foot, to avoid the danger 

 of being pulled off by the hinder shoes : nor should the web project at all. It 

 is the custom to turn up the outer heel to prevent slipping; which is done 

 sometimes to both fore and hind feet, and sometimes only to the latter. As 

 this precaution can hardly be avoided in hilly slippery grounds, it should be 

 rendered as little hurtful as possible by making the tread equal; to which 

 purpose, thicken the inner heel and turn up the outer. This is better than 

 lowering the outer heel to receive the shoe, which still leaves both the tread 

 and foot uneven. 



6603. The racing shoe, or plate, is one made as light and slender as will 

 bear the weight of the horse, and the operations of forging, grooving, and 

 punching; to enable it to do which, it ought to be made of the very best 

 Swedish iron. Three, or at most four, nails are sufficient on each side ; and 

 to avoid the interfering of the hind with the fore feet, the heels of the fore 

 shoes are made as short as they can safely be. As racers are shod in the 

 stable, the owners should be doubly careful that the plate is an exact fit. 

 Many pairs ought to be brought and tried before any are suffered to be put 

 on, and this is more important than is at first considered. 



6604. Grass shoes or lips are very short pieces placed on the toe alone, in horses turned to grass in 

 summer; at which time they are essentially necessary to guard the fore feet, which otherwise become 

 broken away, and irretrievably injured. They should be looked at occasionally to see that they do not 

 indent themselves into the soles. 



6605. Frost shoes (Jig. 8-13 a) have the ends turned up to prevent the foot from sliding; unless the 



84;J turning up or calkin be hardened, they soon wear level and require to be re. 



newed, to the injury of the foot by such frequent removals. To remedy this, 

 many inventions have been tried ; one of the best of these is that of Dr. Moore, 

 in which the frost clip is made distinct and moveable by means of a female 

 screw (h) worked in it, to which a knob or wedge (c) and male screw (d) are 

 adapted ; a key (e) being used for fixing or removing it. 



6606. High catkins, or turn-ups, however objectionable in general shoeing, 

 yet, in precipitous counties, as those of Devonshire, Yorkshire, and of Scotland, 

 &c, are absolutely necessary for their draught horses. It greatly obviates the 

 evils of uneven pressure, if a calkin be also put to the toe ; and it would be still 

 better were these calkins steeled, particularly the fore ones. 



6-S07. The shoeing of diseased feet is necessarily very various, and is too often 

 left to the discretion of the smith, by which the evils themselves are greatly 

 aggravated, if he be ignorant. The most prominent alterations for these pur- 

 poses will be found described under the respective diseases of the feet requir 

 ing them. 



66C 8. Horse pattens are in use by some cultivators who occupy soft or mossy soils. Those esteemed the 

 best are constructed of alder or elm, and are fixed to the hoof by means of three links and a staple, through 

 each of which passes a leathern strap that goes twice round the hoof, and is fastened by a buckle. The 

 staple is placed behind the patten, which is ten inches one way, by ten and a half the other. The link? 

 are about three inches in length, and rivetted through pieces of hoop iron to prevent the wood from split- 

 ting. After numerous trials, it has been found that pattens made in this way answer the purpose better 

 than any other kind. (Farm. Mag.) 



Sect. IX. Criteria of the Qualities of Horses for various Purposes. 



6609. The general criteria of the qualities of a horse are derived from inspection and trial. His outward 

 appearance among judges affords a pretty just criterion of his powers, and a moderate trial usually enables 

 the same judgment to decide on the disposition to exercise such powers. 



6610. The criteria of a horse derived from his colour have been already noticed. (6298.) Asa general 

 principle dark are preferable to light horses, except in the instance of black, which has fewer good horses 

 within its range, particularly in the lighter breeds, than any other. Grey horses are also, in some 

 degree, an exception to the rule ; for there are many good greys. Bay and brown are always esteemed 

 colours. 



661 1. The criteria of action are derived from a due consideration of the form generally, and of the limbs 

 particularly ; as well as from seeing the horse perform his paces in hand. 



6612. The criteria of hardihood are derived from the form of the carcase, which should be circular, or 

 barrelled ; by which food is retained, and strength gained to perform what is required. Such horses are 

 also generally good feeders. 



6613. The criteria of spirit, vigour, or mettle, as it is termed, are best derived from trial. It should 

 always be kept in mind, that a hot fiery horse is as objectionable as a horse of good courage is desirable. 

 Hot horses may be known by their disinclination to stand still ; by their mettle being raised by the slightest 

 exercise, especially when in company. Such horses seldom last long, and under accident are impetuous 

 and frightened in the extreme. A good couraged horse, on the contrary, moves with readiness as well 

 alone as in company : he carries one ear forward and one backward ; is attentive and cheerful, loves to 

 be talked to, and caressed even while on his journey; and if in double harness, will play with his mate. 

 Good couraged horses are always the best tempered, and, under difficulties, are by far the most quiet, and 

 least disposed to do mischief. 



6614. The criteria of a racc-horse, derived from form, are, that he have the greatest possible quantity 

 of bone, muscle, and sinew, in the most condensed form. There should be a general length of parts 

 to afford stretch, scope, and elasticity, with great muscles hardened by condition, to act on the length of 

 these parts advantageously. In particular his hind limbs should be furnished with ample thighs and broad 

 hocks, which should be low set. His fore-arm ought also to be broad, and the knee, like the hock, should 

 be near the ground. 



6615. The criteria of a hunter are, that he have somewhat similar proportions with the racer, but 

 with more bulk to enable him to continue his exertions longer, and to carry more weight. In him, a 

 good carcase is essentially necessary to fit him to go through a long chase; and the more, if he be 

 required to hunt more than one or two days in the week. Some light carcased horses will do one day's 

 hunting work a week very well, but knock up at more. The hunter should be well formed in his 

 loins, and well let down in his thighs to propel him forward in his gallop, and give him strength to 

 rise sufficiently to cover his leaps. It is also of great use to a hunter to be a good trotter; many such 

 horses, when fatigued, break out of the gallop and relieve themselves by trotting, particularly over 

 heavy ground. 



6616. The criteria of a hackney. If it be necessary that the hackney be well formed behind to give him 

 strength, and to propel him forward, it is even of more consequence that he be well formed before ; and 

 in this kind of horse the hind parts are in some measure subordinate to the fore, as safety is preferable to 

 speed. The head in the hacknev should be small, and well placed on a neck of due length and substance 

 to make a proper appui for the bridle, and that proper resistance to the hand, so pleasant to tne feel, and 



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