FIRST-HAND BITS OF STABLE LORE 



credit yourself the amount of the blacksmith's 

 bill you do not pay. 



A barefooted, or a tip-wearing horse rarely 

 overreaches, and never interferes, stumbles, or 

 slips, suffers from corns, quittor, quarter-crack, 

 etc., nor ever injures himself or others with sharp 

 calks. He will go a trifle short for a day or two 

 sometimes if you wear his feet too thin, but never 

 if you use tips. These are simply a protection 

 to the toe, and therefore that portion of the foot 

 must be regularly shortened and lowered, or an 

 unduly elongated foot works harm to back ten- 

 dons, and throws all the joints of the leg out of 

 gear. This tiny crescent of iron (or steel) is set 

 into the toe in a groove made just inside its edge 

 by the drawing-knife, which is just sufficient to 

 allow the admission of the tip, and fastened by 

 three nails, to take the friction of travel by extend- 

 ing just below the surface of the foot, extending 

 round the toe to the widest part of the foot. 



The heels never need opening as is so usually 

 done ; the bars and frog should be left entirely 

 alone. The requisites are a level and natural tread, 

 and this must be carefully provided, or quarters, 

 if weak, may develop fissures or quarter-cracks. 



Wash your horse's feet always, and have them 

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