■RESTBAIKTS.J 



THE HOESE, AXD 



|_BESTBAINTS. 



corn, contraction of the hoof, thrush, &c., will 

 be produced. Although we do not approve of 

 the shoe being so hot when it is applied, as to 

 sear the foot, yet its application should be 

 made when it is moderately hot, to show 

 where the shoe bears, and where it does not, 

 that the rasp may take down some places till 

 the bearing becomes equal. This is a less 

 evil than putting the shoe on at hazard, where 

 there is not equal bearing on the outer side 

 and toe. The driving of the clenches down 

 too much, may cause pain and uneasiness; 

 but it is not so likely to pinch when the shoe 

 sits solidly, as when it does not. Eor this 

 reason, in shoeing, advise but two nails to he 

 driven in the inside, and those tivo next the toe. 

 Ey this the shoe is neither drawn nor warped ; 

 for, you must recollect, the shoe not being 

 elastic, and it being nailed to an elastic body, 

 something must give way ; and the elastic body 

 will, sooner than the non-elastic : and, further, 

 this occasions the shoe frequently to break; 

 and, what is most singular, the breakage almost 

 always takes place at the quarters where the 

 most elasticity exists; proving that there is 

 not so much fault in the iron, as in the con- 

 finement by the shoe of the elastic part of the 

 hoof. 



When extreme lameness, and consequent 

 uneasiness happen immediately after shoeing, 

 the shoes should be instantly taken oif, to 

 ascertain how they were fitted on ; though it 

 frequently occurs, that drawing out the two 

 back nails of the inner quarter will at once 

 give relief. Not that we are to expect horses 

 with bad feet to go so pleasantly in new shoes 

 as old ones. Those with thin flat feet cannot 

 be supposed to go so well as those with strong 

 feet ; consequently a different shoe is required. 

 A shoe to, suit soft thin feet, ought to be well 

 chambered out, as it is called, with a broad 

 web, and only bearing on the edge of the 

 crust : but horses having such feet should have 

 the bar-shoe ; and until it is, in some measure, 

 settled to the foot, the horse will go tender 

 and unpleasantly. 



The substance and weight should be pro- 

 portioned to the work or employment of the 

 horse. Never load the foot with more iron 

 than is necessary to preserve it. If the foot is 

 light, let the shoe be light also ; and if the 

 horse works principally on the road, his shoes 

 should be somewhat stouter. In thus propor- 

 tioning the weight of the iron to the strength 

 or weight of the hoof, a large part of the art ot 

 properly shoeing horses is involved. 



CHAPTER XXXVI. 



OPERATIONS AND EESTRAINTS.— BRONCHOTOJIY ; (ESOPIIAGOTOMY ; NEUROTOMY; DOCKING; KICKING; 

 CROPriNG: BLEECTIING; PURGING; FIRING; BLISTERIxNG. 



"When it is necessary to perform any painful 

 or unpleasant operation on the horse, from his 

 strength and power of resistance, it is neces- 

 sary, for our own security, as well as for the 

 safety of the animal, to restrain him in such a 

 way as to prevent any danger that might 

 otherwise arise from his struggles. Horses, 

 like men, difi'er much in temper ; and some of 

 them, when undergoing any operation, bear 

 pain very difierently to others : but it is always 

 wise to be guarded against the worst ; and very 

 few important operations should be attempted 

 320 



without casting. Great care should be taken to 

 be as humane as possible, and prevent as much 

 pain as lies in our power; though, at times, 

 means are obliged to be resorted to. 



There are other restraints besides the Jiohhle, 

 such as the twitch. This latter instrument is 

 most frequently used by all classes of horse- 

 men; for there is hardly an operation per- 

 formed that does not require the twitch, wliicli 

 no stable should be without. Still, if used 

 with violence, it is apt to make an animal 

 more uneasy and restive than otherwise j couse- 



