Correcting Faulty Action 145 



by raising the toes of the hind shoes and lowering 

 the heels. 



Interfering, striking, cutting and brushing. — Like 

 over-reaching, these defects also result from a num- 

 ber of causes, some of which are predisposed, while 

 others are due to exciting conditions. Defective 

 conformation, such as narrow chests, legs and parti cu 

 larly fetlocks deviating inward, and feet of poDr 

 conformation are the principal predisposing causes. 

 Improper mouthing, fatigue, poor shoeing, uneven 

 and slippery footing, and the like, are frequent 

 exciting causes. 



Of the many defects resulting from faulty action, 

 interfering is one of the most troublesome. It is, 

 however, one that admits of a large measure of pre- 

 vention, and the ill effects of it can be remedied 

 to a very considerable extent by proper bitting, 

 shoeing or balancing, and by the use of boots. 



The treatment to overcome interfering and kin- 

 dred troubles is much the same as that suggested for 

 over-reaching. First, find the cause and remove 

 it if possible. Then put the horse in good condition, 

 and see that his mouth is properly bitted and his 

 feet correctly shod. When the difficulty is due to 

 defects in the conformation of the hoof, it may, in 

 a measure, be overcome by shoeing. If the horse 

 toes-out, shorten the outer part of the toe to a greater 

 extent than the inner, or if he toes-in, trim the hoof 

 in the opposite way. When the injury is inflicted 



