The Hokse's Feet and Their Cake 1Y9 



The balance and action of many colts are impaired before they 

 arrive at an age of usefulness. After a colt once has been shod 

 it should generally be followed up. But let me urge that you 

 have it done by a good sheer — one who has good judgment to do 

 it well and at the same time educate the colt as to what is ex- 

 pected of him. 



Do not shoe too heavily or with too thick calks. Plate shoes 

 are the best if the work to be done will permit. Do not let the 

 nails be too large or driven too high in the hoof. The best 

 method is not to turn the clinches down at all, but rasp them 

 smooth to the hoof. Under no circumstances let a rasp be rubbed 

 above the nails, or let the hoof be sandpapered,, since this breaks 

 the enamel of the hoof, causing it to become brittle, hard and 

 shelly, which condition will in time bring on quarter and toe 

 cracks. 



QUARTER AND TOE CRACKS 



In case of quarter and toe cracks have the bottom of the foot 

 well pared out and all the hard substance of the frog cut away, 

 so as to give elasticity to the bottom of the foot. Then with a 

 hot lance separate the hoof at the coronet, and soften with veteri- 

 nary Petrolina or some other good hoof ointment. 



TREATING CORNS 



There are various causes for corns appearing in the foot of 

 the horse, such as leaving the shoes on too long, uneven paring 

 of the foot, uneven shoes resting too heavily on the heels, having 

 the heels pared too low, high toe calks and low heel calks, driving 

 at a high speed down hill, causing the sensitive parts of the heel 

 to be bruised by coining in contact with stones and other hard 

 substances, and standing on hard, dry board floors. Remedy: 

 shoe with low toes and slightly elevated heels; cut out the seat 

 of the corn, and fill the cavity well with hoof ointment and okum. 

 Reset the shoes as often as once in three or four weeks, relieving 

 the pressure on the heel as much as possible at each setting. • I 

 sometimes fire and blister just over the heel, and that starts a 

 new and quick growth of the hoof. 



Often the heel is cut too low and causes lameness just where 

 the cord runs over the nut bone. If such should be the case it 



