92 THE TROTTING-nORSE OF AMERICA. 



even growth which will follow. A pair of si ort t'ps may 

 theu be put upon the fore-feet, which will prevent the hoof 

 from being broken, and let the horse down upon his heels so 

 as to make them expand, and prevent any tendency towards 

 contraction. During the period that he thus runs out, all 

 grooming and dressing of the coat may be dispensed with ; 

 and the grain fed to him is only to be about half of that 

 which he has had when training, and was kept up to the 

 trotting-mark. In this way the horse may be expected to 

 winter well, and to renew, in a measure, the freshness and 

 elasticity of youth. In my opinion, this system is much to 

 be preferred to that often adopted of turning the horse out 

 into a field, to endure the bitter blasts and intensely cold 

 nights of a severe winter, with nothing but a hovel for 

 shelter, and sometimes not that. Because training or the 

 performance of difficult feats requires high feed, sweats, and 

 some degree of artificial warmth, I can see no reason why 

 the horse should be subjected to another violent ex*:rem9 

 when let up. 



A horse turned loose to undergo this " freezing out," as it 

 is called, is apt to be neglected as to feed as well; and, 

 though he may escape any violent active disorder, he is 

 liable to come up in the spring reduced in flesh, general 

 health and vitality, much and permanently impaired in the 

 wind, and worse off in every wa}'' than he would have been 

 if treated according to the other system. Besides this, 

 horses turned loose upon the frozen turf are apt to do more 

 liurt to their legs than the treatment is at all likel}^ to cure ; 

 and I can see no advantage to be gained by the " freezing- 

 out " plan, in any point of view. 



Another class of horses whose case must be considered 

 embraces those whose legs are in such a state that blister- 

 ing or firing has to be resorted to. These should be kept 

 in tlie stable altogetlier during the active part of the treat- 

 ment; and their food should be of a light, cooling descrip- 

 tion, consisting of mashes and carroty to a considerable 



