VICES CUEED. 93 



Patience and improvement in condition must alone 

 be depended on for a cure ; but the shoes must not be 

 interfered with in any way, or they will, being set on 

 one side, render the ankles weaker than ever. 



Horses that have to gallop over fields that are liter- 

 ally sown broadcast with sharp flints, should always be 

 shod with the best and toughest leathern sole ; which 

 will also be proper in cases of thrush, severe corns, &c., 

 but which will be most improper in cases of laminitis, 

 since the exciting cause of the disease will be increased, 

 owing to an additional strain being put on the crust. 



All horses of proper action stop themselves for leap- 

 ing or any other purpose, with their hind legs ; there- 

 fore, over slippery stones, down steep hills, &c., one or 

 both of the heels of the hind shoes should be turned up 

 or the horse's hind legs may go from under him, and 

 he may strain his loins very severely, as well as injure 

 himself by the fall. 



During frost also no horse should be suffered to go 

 out of the stable without being first shod with ( calk- 

 ings,' which should be sharpened or renewed as occa- 

 sion requires. 



If the horse be a violent kicker while being shod in 

 his hind feet, the best method is to put a noose on the 

 fetlock of the hind foot required to be shod, and to at- 

 tach this to the headstall. 



This will cause him to wrench his neck and head se- 

 verely, whenever he lashes out or endeavours to drag 

 it out of the hands of the smith. 



This is a much better method than ( casting ' him, 



