AND ON SHOEING. 307 



that produces great concussion and heat in a horse's 

 feet, and more particularly in hot weather ; and not 

 imfrcqucntly, many of our post-horses are driven this 

 telling pace for a distance of tvvelv'e or fourteen miles 

 before they are put into the stables ; and when they ai*e 

 thei-e, the}^ are generally np to their knees in bedding 

 necessary for them to rest and lay on, but which keeps 

 their feet very hot, notwithstanding the cow dung 

 with which they may be stopped at night. I am of 

 opinion, that it is the rapidity of pace and the long 

 lengths so often repeated, that subject so many more of 

 our horses to lameness in the feet ; and I do not 

 think (as is generally {Supposed) that the horses of 

 the Continent are less subject to it from any superiority 

 in the French method of shoeing. 



I am inclined to think, that were proper attention 

 paid to colts immediately on their being taken from 

 their paddocks into the training stables, causing their 

 feet to be cleaned out as often as may be found neces- 

 sary, according to the strength and growth of their 

 feet, and their shoes with sufficient cover and sub- 

 stance to be properly fitted — aided by such other 

 treatment as I shall presently mention, there would be 

 but few race-horses, or indeed, horses of any descrip- 

 tion, that would become lame in their feet, from con- 

 traction, the navicular, or any other disease, unless 

 such as may be brought on by injuries originating 

 from accidents. 



If the stables in which race-horses stand are on the 



downs on which the horses are to exercise, (as is often 



X 2 



