294 TREATMENT OF THE FEET. 



day morning', is a very good time to apply the, stoppir^ , 

 but in hot summer weather, twice or three times a week 

 will not be found too often. 



It is sometimes the practice to anoint the crust or wall 

 of the foot, that is, the part of the hoof which presents it- 

 eelf to the eye, when the horse is standing on his feet ; 

 whether this plan is good or not, depends on the foot it- 

 self. To render a rigid, strong foot elastic, the horn should 

 be saturated with water : and to keep it elastic, the oint- 

 ment should be applied before the water evaporates ; 

 while to keep a thin, weak foot hard and unyielding, with- 

 out making it brittle, an ointment should be used to pre- 

 vent the absorption of water. Jn wet weather, a thin foot 

 sliould be oiled before the horse goes out, and a stiong 

 thick foot after the horse comes in : in hot dry weather, 

 the ointment should be renewed every second or third day. 



The oil usually had for this purpose, is fish oil, for an- 

 o nting the hoof; but a mixture made of equal quantities 

 of tar, lard, oil, and bees'-wax, is a better and more dura- 

 ble application. 



Shoeixg, — The proper and timely performance of this 

 necessary operation, is of the utmost consequence to the 

 well-being of the horse. — Generally speaking, a month is 

 the time between the last and the succeedinu: shoeinir. 

 Care should be taken every time the horse comes in fro*n 

 his work, to examine his shoes as well as his feet ; for want 

 of this, it sometimes happens that a shoe drops off" in the 

 middle of a journey ; not only is time then lost, but the 

 foot becomes injured, and prol)ably the horse lamed. 



Fast-working horses require to have the feet pared at 

 least once a month, without reference to whether they need 

 new shoes, or not. If the horn be suffered to gi'ow, the 

 action of the horse becomes impeded ; he cannot step out 

 properly, or place his foot firmly on the ground ; from this 

 reason it is necessary, at least once a month, to pare off 

 the superfluous horn, unless the horse should be one having 

 a deficiency of horn ; in which case, he may go five weeks 

 or even more. At any time, should there be a loose or 

 bioken nail, or a clench started, or if the horse be cutting, 

 call in the farrier at once. 



The shoe, and the proper time and mode of its appli- 

 cation varies, in accordance with the weight of the horse 

 end Its action, particularly with reference to the state of 



