THE FOOT AND ITS TREATMENT 



the pale, both because of his weight and of the 

 location and regular long periods of his labor. 

 Our pleasure horses, on the contrary, are most 

 irregularly used, and that for only a matter of an 

 hour or two at a time, so that, if they have origi- 

 nally fairly sound feet, they may be used either 

 barefooted or wearing tips, and while not, of 

 course, displaying that excessive action which 

 weight in the shoe assists to procure, they retain as 

 much of it as is necessary to attractive progress. 

 Our showmen are in the habit to-day of leaving 

 their exhibits barefoot between shows, and the 

 shoes then applied greatly enhance the always 

 extravagant action. While just at first wet swabs 

 about the coronets, and even the use of the foot- 

 tub, will force the horny growth, no moisture will 

 afterwards be called for beyond that absorbed in 

 washing the feet, or in travelling muddy roads. 

 If growth is rapid, extra pains must be taken to 

 keep the feet level and balanced, and frequent 

 treatment with a rasp (never any other instrument) 

 is needed to round up the edges of quarters and 

 toes. The attrition of travel will remove all sur- 

 plus horn, but it must be noticed that all horses 

 do not wear their feet alike, and then it is your 

 duty to preserve the level they destroy, and to 



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