g 2 THE CARE OF HORSES 



kind without any individual possessing the heart to inter- 

 pret it !' 



But now, to the credit of mankind and the noble 

 cause of humanity, there are many good people 

 who take the part of the ill-used — I say people, 

 because the R.S.P.C.A. now embraces the names 

 of many ladies as well as gentlemen, and in its 

 juvenile branches the members are just as mixed. 

 Indeed, many a good rescue of tortured animals has 

 been effected by little girls as well as by their stronger 

 companions, the boys. 



Where lameness shows itself and you are not able 

 to find out the seat of injury, or the direct cause, 

 always have instant advice from a qualified and 

 practical veterinary surgeon. The causes of lame- 

 ness are so very numerous, and a goodly number are 

 due to foot trouble. A good house requires a good 

 foundation, and a good animal requires a shoe to 

 stand on. Give your orders when you take your 

 horse to the forge, and see that he is all right when 

 you fetch him away. 



CHAPTER XI 



THE TEETH 



At birth a foal has his middle incisors or front teeth, 

 though they are still covered by the gum. At a month 

 old they come through, and then the incisors on 

 either side, called the ' lateral incisors,' appear. At six 

 months the corner teeth are visible, and up to two 

 years of age a horse has a row of six incisors in the 

 lower jaw, with the same number in the upper jaw. 

 These first teeth, which are soft and white, are called 

 the ' milk teeth.' These ' nippers,' or temporary 

 teeth, are shed, giving place to hard, strong teeth 

 called the permanent or second teeth. 



