The Hokse on New York State Farms 133 



of the hair around the top of the hoof. Hough, coarse, kinky hair 

 means poor, coarse and In-ittle hoofs : while if the hair has a fine, 

 smooth, glossy texture it indicates that the hoofs are of the same 

 quality and will stand the wear much better. The foot should be 

 of good size with a dense heavy wall that is free from ridges and 

 roughness. The soles should l)e thick and firmly attached to the 

 wall. The frog should be large and wide and extend well down. 

 The bars should be prominent and extend well back. 



The weakest part of the hind limbs is the hock joint. Un- 

 doubtedly, with TT) per cent of the horses that are lame behind, 

 the trouble is located in or around the hock joint. The entire joint 

 shoTild be large and wide in front, extending well back, and should 

 present a flat appearance, with its irregTilar shape distinctly out- 

 lined and free from puffiness. 



SLIGHT ^OX-UEKKDITAKY UXSOUXDXESS XOT A BAR TO FARM WORK 



Often times unsound horses can be used to advantage on the 

 farm. We often reject a horse for some trifling unsoundness, as 

 a splint, wind puft" or wire cut, and accept one that is apparently 

 sound, but with such poor conformation that he is predisposed to 

 unsoundness when put to hard labor. Sound, serviceable horses 

 can frequently bo purchased 25 per cent or more below their 

 actual vahie. City horses that have corns, sidebones, etc., caused 

 from continual concussion on city pavements, often make sound, 

 serviceable horses for farm work. It is not usually economical to 

 l)uy horses that have an incurable lameness, as the pain caused 

 by the lameness makes them hard keepers. 



Some farmers do not keep enough horses to do their work m 

 season without overworking them. ^^lany farmers, however, keep 

 too many horses, and often are more careful of them than they 

 are of the members of their own family. It is not infrequent to 

 see the children walking to town to an occasional party or to 

 church, while the father has several horses standing idle in the 

 stable. Let the boys and girls take a pleasure trip with the horse 

 occasionally, and you will do more to keep them on the old farm 

 than by any other single thing. 



