NATURE'S MODES OF ACTION 323 



most beautiful outer coating for the hoof, but one that 

 is nearly impervious to moisture. Destroy this by the 

 use of the rasp, and the hoof becomes, first, too wet, 

 then too dry and hard, and finally unhealthy. The 

 natural oily protective covering of the foot is far 

 superior to any concoction of tar, lampblack and linseed 

 oil, even though it be perfumed and mixed according 

 to some well -guarded formula. True, the clinches of 

 the nails should be smoothed off lightly; otherwise, the 

 outside of the hoof should not be rasped or filed, unless 

 it is abnormal. If the foot is normal, it is not well 

 to shorten the toe and then attempt to give form to 

 the foot by using a rasp. Some one has said that the 

 Lord put all the water in milk that it would bear. 

 Nature's modes of action, undisturbed, produce a good- 

 shaped foot; don't try to improve it. If the foot is 

 good to start with, has been watched and cared for 

 during its growth, has been judiciously used and prop- 

 erly protected by iron or steel, still some attention 

 should be given it, because the horse, when stand- 

 ing in the stable, is placed in unnatural conditions; if 

 standing on a hard floor, his fore feet, especially, be- 

 come dry and unelastic. Suggestions have already been 

 given as to caring for the legs. When this is being 

 done, the feet should be examined that the condition 

 of the shoes may be known, and, if extraneous dirt 

 adheres to the sole of the foot, it should be removed. 

 Let it be supposed that the horse has been put to 

 severe road -work for several days, and that this is 

 followed by little or no driving for an equal period, 

 and that the horse is left to stand on a dry plank 



