166 UNASKED ADVICE. 



cannot be desirable. Boots almost always cut the hind 

 fetlock, and lame the horse until they are taken off. If 

 they extend a little above the fetlock joint, and fasten 

 with two or more buckles, they will be less likely to do 

 this sort of damage, as the lower fastening may be looser 

 than it otherwise could. While on this subject, over- 

 reaches may as well be considered. With the inside edge 

 of the hind shoe bevelled well off, or with a Charlier shoe 

 let well in, they ought not to occur, in the form of a cut 

 at least, though the blow will be the same, and a bruised 

 heel the result. Still, a blow is better than a cut. I 

 have, oddly enough, had only two overreach cuts in the 

 last six seasons ; but this is good luck, and I may have 

 two more the next two days that I hunt. One of these 

 was done with the common shoe; the other with a 

 Charlier shoe badly put on, not let in, and left sharp at 

 the inside edge. I need hardly say that I saw this last 

 article for the first time after the accident, owing to 

 uncontrollable circumstances. An overreach high up, 

 above the heel in fact, is a case for professional advice ; 

 but the common can be well treated at home by frequent 

 bathing with arnica and water ; a very loose flap of skin 

 may be cut off. These mishaps seldom lame the horse, 

 so he can do his exercise while the case progresses a 

 great point, as idleness in the season is most prejudicial 

 to a hunter's future well doing. Do not hunt him again 

 before the cut is healed, as another blow on the bad place 

 would make a serious affair of what should be com- 

 paratively a trifling one at all events, a business of ten 

 days, say. An overreach on the sinew is beyond home 

 treatment, as the cut if deep will require to be sewn up, 

 and I never yet saw a groom who could be trusted to do 

 that sort of thing. 



