550 AMERICAN FARMER'S HORSE BOOK. 



than is advisable. Shoes may be put on the three years' colt 

 at the beginning of winter, and remain until spring, when 

 they are to be removed and left off until the following 

 autumn. 



All horses, and especially all young horses, should spend 

 as much of their time bare-footed as possible. The shoes 

 should be taken from the farm-horse in the spring, his feet 

 pared, and the edges of the hoof trimmed ; and if the bot- 

 toms have begun to decay they should be wetted with tur- 

 pentine, which must be thoroughly dried in by holding a 

 hot iron under the bottom of the hoof as long as the horse 

 will bear the heat. The corrosive liniment may be used in- 

 stead of turpentine. This will preserve the hoof from the 

 evil effects of shoeing, and destroy any tendency to disease. 

 Feet that have long been shod will always be tender, and 

 they are often injured when the shoes are removed, and after- 

 ward much hurt by contact with the hard ground. More- 

 over, when shoes are not properly trimmed, the hoofs break 

 in such a manner as to let the bottom of the foot down 

 upon the ground, and the horse is given pain by every step 

 he takes, from the soreness of the soles of the hoof. 



The corrosive liniment, used as directed in the chapter on 

 medicines, will readily heal and harden the hoof. Indeed, 

 this invaluable liniment might well be applied to the hoof 

 on many occasions, and thus certainly prevent such diseases 

 as hoof-rot, corns, grease, and thrush. 



