ON PLATING RACE-HORSES. 345 



Remedies for the relief of his feet can be much better 

 applied, but not bran poultices, as used to be the 

 custom. These are not good on such occasions, as the 

 weight of the horse when standing spreads them 

 abroad, and the heat of the feet soon absorbs the 

 moisture of the poultice ; and they are inconvenient 

 for horses either to stand or lie down in. It was the 

 custom, and a very excellent one, on a horse's arriving 

 at his stable after running, to foment his legs and 

 feet. I should afterwards put wet pads round the 

 crust of the fore-feet, and stop the bottoms with wet 

 tow, before the stables are shut up at night. The pads 

 and tow should be fresh wetted every stable hour. 



If the horse be a craving one, and is likely to lay by 

 for ten or twelve days, I should recommend a dose of 

 physic to keep him light and to assist in getting his 

 feet cool. As soon as the inflammation and soreness 

 had left his feet, the wet pads should be removed, and 

 the tar ointment occasionally applied round the crust 

 of the feet, always keeping the bottoms constantly 

 stopped with wet tow. This is the treatment I should 

 apply to the feet of horses that may have got out 

 of order from the causes mentioned. If a horse's feet 

 are weak and his heels low, and he has to run on hard 

 ground, it would be advisable to let him run in his 

 shoes. 



A horse that has strong feet may be plated in the 

 stable, and walk from thence to the course, and after 

 running, he may return to the stables in his plates, and 

 continue wearing them until he has performed his 



