THE SUMMERING OF HUNTERS. 145 



misfortune for them, by any means, to be removed, 

 unless we can make sure of providing an efficient 

 substitute. 



We are now, I hope, in a position to derive a 

 very practical lesson from what has gone before. 

 It is this : At the end of every hunting season, one 

 month should be spent in quiet observation ; the 

 shoes should all be removed and exact square bear- 

 ing surfaces for all the feet obtained (light level 

 shoes or plates being put on), and all enlargements 

 occurring from the knees and hocks downwards 

 most carefully observed. Hundreds of horses are 

 yearly needlessly cast and fired from w^ant of this 

 simple precaution. 



Those who are following us in our consideration 

 of this important subject will do well to read, mark, 

 learn, and inwardly digest the conclusion w^e 

 arrived at in regard to "stays" or hypertrophies, 

 which are so apt to occur about the lower third of 

 the legs from uneven bearing surface of the shoe 

 and foot. We have recommended a month to be 

 spent in quietly watching the behaviour of these 

 enlargements during rest and ease, accompanied by 

 a level foot surface. From the end of the hunting 

 season to the commencement of the time when flies 

 begin to be troublesome is the period we choose to 

 do all repairs to the animal machine necessitating 

 " raw " surfaces being produced, — firing, blistering, 

 for example. This time is amply sufficient for a 

 month^'s careful observation when the season ends 



