326 ON THE TREATMENT OF HORSES' FEET, 



shoes were not worn by race-horses at the time I was 

 living in the stables, I cannot speak from experience 

 how they may answer, farther than from the practice I 

 have already noticed in applying them to the feet of 

 troop horses. Nor do I wish to press this method of 

 shoeing on the notice of trainers, but if they choose to 

 try the short shoes for the purposes, and at the seasons 

 of the year mentioned, I am not aware of any incon- 

 venience that can result from such a trial. On the 

 contrary, if the horses' feet in other respects receive 

 the attention and treatment I have advised, I am of 

 opinion they will be found in a more sound and per- 

 fect state than if they wore long shoes. 



Previous to concluding this chapter, it may be ad- 

 visable to offer a few cautionary remarks to owners of 

 horses; as a thorough knowledge of those animals is 

 not so easily obtained as people who keep them are 

 led to imagine. In submitting these observations to 

 the consideration of gentlemen, I am led to hope I may 

 not give offence, which I assure them it is far from 

 my intention of doing. Men of education soon learn 

 to discourse familiarly on most subjects, and none ac- 

 quire knowledge so readily as sportsmen on the truf. 

 I have had frequent opportunities of hearing gentle- 

 men talk with each other on the condition of their 

 horses, and the best method of shoeing them, &c., as 

 if they really understood all that was necessary to be 

 known on such subjects. 



I have already instanced mistakes which have been 

 made with regard' to the condition of horses, by those 



