FOALS AND UNSHOD FEET. 49 



animals than in those of maturer growth. Tho tissues 

 are more plastic, more easily moulded to external condi- 

 tions and more likely to sulier permanently from inter- 

 ference with their functions, than are the tissues of 

 animals in which development has ceased. Hence it is 

 very necessary to see that tho feet of colts, even of foals, 

 are not permitted to long remain in a disproportionate 

 form. 



Tho necessary interference is very slight. No cutting 

 or paring of frog or sole is required. All that is wanted 

 is a judicious use of the rasp to the lower border of the 

 wall, so that heels are not allowed to lift the frog from 

 contact with the ground; that the toe is not of such 

 abnormal length as to strain the joints and tendons of 

 the leg; and that both sides of the hoof are maintained 

 of an equal height. 



Stud horses, from want of exercise and excessive 

 feeding, are predisposed to disease of the feet. Laminitis 

 is a frequent cause of lameness and even of death in 

 stallions and in mares at foaling time. It would be 

 wrong to say. that this disease is directly due to neglected, 

 disproiDortionate feet, but in nearly every case these 

 conditions accompany the disease, and, according to their 

 extent, aggravate it. I feel certain that more attention 

 to the preservation of a natural form of hoof would 

 modify the violence of many cases, even if it did not 

 prevent their origin. 



In all horses which are prevented by their surround- 

 ings from wearing down the hoof naturally, especially 

 in young, growing animals, a little periodic attention to 

 the hoof would ensure better conformation and more 

 healthy feet and limbs. As a rule, it is the more expen- 

 sive class of horse that is bred and reared in stables or 

 in confined pastures where overgrowth produces mis- 

 chief. The greater then tho economy of intelligent care 

 of the foot in such conditions. Were it possible to 

 always trace effects to their causes, it would often be 

 found that round joints, straight pasterns and bent knees 

 directly resulted from neglect of the feet in unshod 

 young horses. 



