FEET BIGHT AT BIRTH 317 



The feet of the horse being a prime factor when 

 value and usefulness are considered, it will be well if 

 this factor be taken into account when the sire and 

 dam are selected and mated; for like produces like, 

 under like conditions. Good -footed parents tend to 

 produce good-footed offspring. Horses with poor feet 

 should never be used as progenitors of their species. 

 Supposing that the colt is born right, that he is of 

 good inheritance, still his feet should receive attention, 

 especially in the spring of the year. Not infrequently 

 he is kept in the stable for half of the year, if so, the 

 feet wear away but little; if he stands on manure from 

 which ammonia is escaping, the growth of the hoofs 

 is stimulated, the harder parts of the foot are softened, 

 and the softer portion (the frog) develops an abnor- 

 mal growth, which not infrequently leads to a diseased 

 foot. Even if the colt is allowed to stand on manure 

 from which ammonia is not escaping, the hoofs are 

 still likely to make too much growth. 



To avoid many, if not all of the ills produced by 

 stable confinement, paddocks or large yards should be 

 provided where the colts may spend a large part of 

 each day. True, the hair will grow longer than it 

 would if they were confined in warm stables but this 

 will not be so serious a matter as to have the hoofs 

 grow long, soft and out of shape. But, in any case, 

 the feet of colts should receive attention and be pared 

 off whenever the growth much exceeds the wear. This 

 attention is especially necessary in the spring of the 

 year, just before they are turned to pasture. 



If, then, the horse has good inheritance and has had 



