THEIR FEED AND THEIR FEET. 135 



they were well worn down, say in three or four weeks, 

 had the front feet shod, and I learned to have the 

 old shoes reset if they would hold the nails, and to 

 have this done as seldom as possible. This does not 

 mean that the shoe was left on till it came off of its 

 own accord, but so long as the horse seemed to stand 

 and travel well, the shoes were not set back. 



I had four colts, and about this time began to train 

 and drive them. Those that were old enough were 

 used daily on the road, never being driven more than 

 eight to ten miles in one day, and rarely that. A 

 friend dropped the remark, " If your colts have good 

 feet you will not need to shoe them until they are 

 five years old." I was already beginning to regret 

 the necessity of having them shod, for after I had 

 found out that I could do my own horseshoeing, I 

 was glad to have the smith do it — if he would do it 

 my way ; and he was glad to put on even Goodenough 

 shoes. 



I did not have the colts shod, and found out that it 

 takes a deal of use, even in soft wet weather when the 

 hoofs are easily worn, to wear them down so that the 

 feet are tender. 



I began also to let the old horses go barefoot. 

 They were used chiefly on the farm (as we had the 

 colts for driving), and before long, -say within three 

 months, their feet were in beautiful condition — round, 

 solid, with big frogs and broad heels, and besides, the 

 fresh growth of horn around the coronet was so 

 healthy, smooth, and uniform that it was a pleasure 

 to see it. 



