TREATMENT OF THE HOOF. 313 



The shoeing of colts is to be strongly deprecated. The 

 development of the hoof is impeded by shoeing, and young 

 horses when shod are often excessively worked and thus ruined 

 before they attain maturity. Moderate w^ork in the fields does 

 not injure young stock, but for this purpose shoes are not 

 required. 



When full-grown unshod horses are not regularly exercised 

 it is also necessary from time to time to lower the wall and to 

 round off its outer edge with the rasp. 



(6) Cake of the Shod Hoof. 



The hoof when shod is more exposed to injury than when 

 unshod, for shoeing, though absolutely necessary to permit of 

 work on hard roads, prevents or diminishes the expansion and 



Fig. 309.— Instniinents for cleaning out feet. Left, portable form : rijjht, stable form 



with hammer. 



-contraction of the hoof, and thus interferes witli local circula- 

 tion and checks the growth of horn. 



To this may be added the bad effects of standing in stables. 

 The animal suffers from want of exercise, from the foulness of 

 the surface on which it stands, and from drvint; of the hoof. 

 Continued standing causes contraction of the hoof, a condition 

 favoured by dryness. This is best seen in front hoofs. Badh- 

 laid or uneven floors cause fatigue of the limbs, favour the 

 accumulation of urine, etc., and are thus indirectly responsible 

 for attacks of thrusli. To prevent such contingencies the hoof 

 should be shortened every foui- to six weeks, and if necessary 



