The Hoese's Feet axd Their Care 177 



What farmer would think of going into a ten-acre lot with the 

 old-fashioned scythe when we have the improved mowing 

 machines, or into a field of the same size with such plows as* were 

 used fifty years ago ? 



All the arts and sciences are fifty years ahead of that of horse 

 shoeing in the farming districts. Do not the same conditions 

 exist today in the majority of the rural shops as did fifty years 

 ago ? The old scythe blade for trimming the feet, the buttress 

 to cut away the heel, the shoe set on an inch or so back of the 

 toe, and the old scythe blade and hammer to cut off the over pro- 

 jecting toe ! Xumber eight nails are used in many cases, when 

 num-ber six are too larga But the shoers are not to blame; it is 

 the fault of the horse owners in not demanding a better class of 

 workmen to shoe their horses, and theiu unwillingTiess to pay a 

 fair price for the work. 



IMPORTANCE OF BREEDING FROM SOUND ANIMALS 



The main point I wish to bring to your attention is the treat- 

 ment of the feet of the horse. It has long been an observed fact 

 in breeding that "like begets like"; that is, that the peculiarities 

 of parents are likely to appear in their offspring. It follows then 

 that when parents are chosen, whose form, appearance, etc., are 

 those desired by the breeder, there is considerable probability that 

 their ofi'spring will be similarly characterized. Therefore, the 

 breeder who possesses a high ideal and wishes to realize it, will 

 select as sires of his future stock animals that conform to his 

 ideal. In other words, he will breed only from the best. He may 

 be able to overlook the fact that a sire or dam has not the mane or 

 tail he may desire, but in no case should he overlook a sire or dam 

 with poor feet or teeth. It has been my experience that " like 

 begets like " more in this respect that in any other characteristic, 

 since these parts are brought in action at the beginning of the 

 colt's existence. So the care of these parts should begin before 

 birth. 



SHOEING COLTS 



No colt should be put to pasture without having his feet pared 

 and leveled. This should be done regularly every six months from 

 the time the colt is one year old. 

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