FIRST-HAND BITS OF STABLE LORE 



horse, the race horse, and the pony in all his 

 heights will do perfectly well in tips, or barefooted 

 if due allowances are made for rest and for recu- 

 peration of the horn-producing vessels from time 

 to time. The writer has proved this time and 

 again, not in isolated cases, but with dozens of 

 horses, and of all ages and conditions, but natur- 

 ally not without close personal supervision, and a 

 knowledge for hhnself that all details were attended 

 to, all directions carried out. Grooms, black- 

 smiths, and even the average horse-owner are 

 opposed to all innovations, and even if they adopt 

 them, do so more with the idea of proving them 

 impractical than the reverse. Fair trial is what 

 all such plans should be accorded, however, espe- 

 cially when so great an economy is possible. If 

 you chase hither and yon to save a cent a bushel 

 on oats or a trifle on hay, why not fairly try a 

 scheme that will save you many dollars per annum, 

 — not only in smith's bills but in wear and tear 

 of horse-flesh ? We all agree that the first thing 

 to do when we turn our horses out is to either 

 pull off the shoes or to replace them with tips, 

 and thus equipped we allow them probably to 

 travel several miles daily in ranging over their 

 pasture, — and that means a good many miles 



1 20 



