DOMESTIC ANIMALS 257 



unreliable. Good grooming keeps the pores of the skin open and 

 the hair glossy and in good condition. 



Probably no animal suffers so much from the cruelty, neglect, and 

 ignorance of its owner as does the horse. It is often driven, 

 worked, and fed with little judgment, its health injured, and its 

 period of usefulness is lessened or cut short by neglect and mis- 

 management. Bad treatment does not stop here. It is often 

 subjected to mutilation which injures it permanently. 



Shoeing. Probably the most frequent and serious injury 

 comes from bad shoeing. There is an old saying, "No foot no 

 horse." The general purpose of shoeing is to preserve the exposed 

 hoof from wear. Farm horses and horses not compelled to do 

 heavy work on hard roads would be better off if never shod at all. 

 When they are shod, the hoof loses its natural moisture. The horse 

 is apt to go lame if the shoes are removed, unless it is kept in pas- 

 ture until the hoof regains its natural condition. 



The frog is a natural cushion of gristle to lessen the shock of 

 travel. It should never be trimmed nor touched with the knife. 

 The horny wall should be interfered with as little as possible. The 

 outside is covered with a natural varnish which should never be 

 cut nor rasped off. Only the portion of the wall and sole on which 

 the shoe rests should be touched. From this should be trimmed or 

 rasped the portion which the shoe prevents from wearing off as it 

 would naturally do on the unshod hoof. The hoof should be lev- 

 elled carefully and the shoe made to fit the foot, not, as is 

 too often done by ignorant blacksmiths, the foot made to fit the 

 shoe. 



Checkrein. A checkrein is a discomfort and disadvantage to 

 a horse. Think how uncomfortable it would be for you to have 

 your head fastened up in the same position for hours at a time ! 

 The checkrein deprives the horse of the power of throwing its 



