Preparation of Horses. 53 



stable accommodation cannot be procured, it 

 is advisable, if practicable, to tie them up, and 

 feed and water them for a similar period in 

 the open, or in stock yards, kraals, or pad- 

 docks. I am told that Australian shippers who 

 send horses to India act on this principle. 



If the journey is likely to extend to three 

 weeks, or longer, the heels of the fore feet 

 should be lowered, supposing that they are 

 of the ordinary height, so as to reduce to 

 some extent the weight on the toes, and thus 

 to diminish the danger of laminitis (fever in 

 the feet), which, on board ship, is a disease 

 that is almost entirely confined to the fore 

 feet. The fore shoes should be replaced, in 

 order to prevent the animals wearing down the 

 fore feet by pawing in their stalls or boxes, 

 which they are very apt to do from im- 



