SHOEING AND CARE OF THE FEET. 43 



being left on too long. There in no necessity to apply any 

 fat or oil to the hoofs, as nothing is to be gained by doing so. 

 After the horses come in from work, the soles of their feet 

 should be looked at, in order to see if any stones have lodged 

 in the sole. Every time a horse is shod, some Stockholm 

 tar ought to be applied to the cleft of the frog, in order to 

 [)revent the appearance of thrush. The supply of dry bed- 

 ding is an important point in the care of the feet, as wet and 

 dirty litter is a great cause of thrush. In hot weather, the 

 application of cold water to the feet is of great benefit, this 

 serving to cool them. 



When horses are turned out to grass, their shoes must all 

 l)e removed, unless they are turned out only for a Aveek or 

 two. It greatly benefits the feet if the horse goes barefooted 

 when runninsr at srass. Besides ren^-ovino: the shoes when an 

 animal is about to be turned out, the heels of the hoofs should 

 bo Avell pared down, in order to let the frog come properly 

 into contact with the ground, while the rasp should Ije 

 run round the edge where the sole and wall meet, so as to 

 remove the shaiiiness, and thus to prevent the wall from 

 s])litting, as it is apt to do when a horse goes unshofl, and 

 j\lien the lutxaution of rasping the edge, in order to make it 

 blunt, is not taken. 



