HORSE SENSE. 211 



What do you consider the best treatment for "scours" in a young 

 colt without giving much medicine? 



Ans. In our long experience with many foals every spring we have 

 found that proper care of the dam to be the best treatment for "scours." 

 The general cause of this trouble is a too copious flow of milk, usually 

 from the mare drinking large quantities of water, which is easily remedied 

 by giving only small draughts of water at a tirne and cutting down on 

 the grain ration for a short time, and the "scours" soon disappear. But 

 as long as the mare drinks large quantities of water and is richly fed, the 

 chances are that the colt will not improve in condition. A dose of castor 

 oil may be given to the colt. 



What is the proper care of the colt's feet before he reaches the age 

 for shoeing, for the best results for the future of the horse? 



Ans. Be sure and trim the feet often and keep them as nearly level 

 as possible all around, so as not to have the bearing unequal on the 

 sides, not too long at the toe, or the heels so high as not to get good 

 "frog" pressure, is the surest method of keeping the feet in proper shape 

 for the best results for the future horse. 



Do you approve of the blacksmith cutting away the "sole" and "bars" 

 of the horse's feet preparatory to shoeing? 



Ans. No, indeed; the thinner the "sole" is pared and the more the 

 "bars" are cut away, the sooner the horse will sufifer from dryness of the 

 feet and consequent contraction, bruises, corns, etc. 



Is it a good practice to rasp away the outside horn of the horse's 

 foot up as high as the nails clinch to make a nice, smooth job in shoeing? 



Ans. The outside glossy coating of the horse's foot is nature's pro- 

 tection for the preservation of the moisture of the foot, and the more 

 rasping is done the more exposure, and consequently the greater danger 

 of drying and shrinking up of the horse's feet. Elasticity is needed in the 

 feet as well as other parts of the body, but not to the same degree, yet 

 if the moisture of the feet is allowed to escape by rasping and cutting 

 at the feet unnecessarily, the more danger there is to the inside structures 

 being injured. Keep the feet as nearly natural as possible in conformation, 

 ■with good, strong "bars," "soles" and elastic "frog" and the liability to 

 lameness will be very much lessened. 



What is the relative value of a springy or oblique "pastern" over 

 a straight or upright "pastern?" 



Ans. That would depend somewhat on the usage of the horse. 

 AVhile a springy "pastern" is always preferable to an upright one, the 

 road horse must have springy "pasterns" or soon go sore (unless he is 

 a very low gaited horse). More lameness results from straight inelastic 

 "pasterns" than any other cause (excepting accidents). The heavier the 

 road horse with upright "pasterns" the sooner and more surely will he 

 sufifer. 



Do you think the rigid use of a "bitting harness" good for colts be- 

 fore they go into harness practice? 



Ans. No: it too often "sours" the disposition, cramps the muscles 

 of the neck, injures the mouth and frequently spoils an otherwise good 



