THE SHOE AND THE FBOG. 329 



" The groom must also lead the horse out of the stable 

 to the place where he is to comb him ; and he should be 

 tied away from the manger after his morning's feed, that 

 he may come to his evening's meal with the greater 

 appetite. 



" The ground outside the stable may be put into 

 excellent condition, and serve to strengthen the horse's 

 feet, if a man lays down here and there four or five 

 loads of round stones, each large enough to fill the two 

 hands, and weighing about a pound, surrounding them 

 with an iron rim, so that they may not be scattered. 

 For, as the horse stands on these, he will be in much the 

 same condition as if he were to travel part of every day on a 

 stony road. 



" A horse must also move his hoofs while he is being 

 rubbed down, or when he is annoyed with flies, as much 

 as when he is walking, and the stones which are thus 

 spread about strengthen the frogs of the feet." " Horseman- 

 ship" (" Hipparchicus "), ch. iv. 3 5. Watson's 

 Translation. 



The almost universal idea that the horse's hoof is all 

 very well for its own country, but is unable to withstand 

 the artificial roads of our country, is utterly absurd to 

 those who know anything of the various soils habitually 

 traversed by the wild horse. The very worst road in 

 England is as a Turkey carpet to a new gravel walk 

 when compared to the rocks, sands, morasses, sage-brush, 

 and shingle, which the wild horse traverses with perfect 

 ease. And I am sure that if we would only give the 



