CHAPTEE XXVII. 



DRESSING CRACKED HEELS EXERCISING FALCON DRIVING 



NEVER MIND DRIVING JANE THE STRIDE OF HORSES 



POSITION OF FEET IN A TROT AND GALLOP 



SKILL IN DRIVING. 



PRECEPTOR. The sun's rays have hung diamonds on 

 every bush and flower, transforming the dewdrops into 

 jewels outshining those in a queen's diadam. I have always 

 fancied that there is a sanitive property in the morning 

 dew, and that when a horse's feet are feverish, or the horn 

 brittle, a walk in the "dew-bespangled" grass would be of 

 benefit. I do not know that this distilled moisture is dif- 

 ferent from that taken from the cistern, and put in the foot 

 tub; and perhaps the idea that it penetrates the foot more 

 quickly is only a fanciful notion. I am not much in, favor 

 of these greasy applications called hoof ointments, and 

 think that water is superior to all the compounds that are 

 daubed on the horn. Neither do I believe in the many 

 soakings that some give; the application of water sufficient 

 to keep it clean is generally all that is needed for a healthy 

 foot. Should a horse's heels be inclined to crack, the 

 practice of walking him where the dew will dampen that 

 part of the foot, is bad. For cracked heels, glycerine is the 

 best application with which I am acquainted, and if a 

 little of it is applied when they first begin to open, it will 

 effect a cure, unless the evil arise from a morbid habit 

 occasioned by bad health. Much washing of the legs is 

 prejudicial, by inclining the heels to open, though the use 



