THE HORSE. 79 



efficacious, and sometimes to succeed when all other 

 experiments have failed." This practice is certainly 

 more rational than any of the numerous farrier's 

 expedients, but I have long ago and often tried it 

 without any but temporary success, the horse begin- 

 ning to knock again) after travelling half a score 

 miles. Mr. Moorcroft made more experiments in 

 order to discover a remedy in this case than any 

 one else, without the smallest success, which, indeed, 

 I am convinced is hopeless. Our only resource 

 then is a leathern defence or boot, whether for the 

 knee or pastern. With respect to myself, I certainly 

 never would choose a hack or hunter that did not go 

 perfectly clear of his legs ; but, if necessitated to 

 ride such a one, with equal certainty, I never would 

 cross him without his boot; and I strongly recom- 

 mend the practice to all other horsemen, from motives 

 of security to themselves and of feeling for the un- 

 fortunate animal they bestride. Wounded legs, at 

 least, in my estimation, are more unsightly and un- 

 horsemanlike than booted ones. This, in course, ap- 

 plies equally to draught horses. It is of consequence 

 that these boots be made with judgment and pro- 

 perly adapted, or they will not answer the end of 

 defence and comfortable travelling to the horse. 



On poultice and water boots I must refer the 

 reader to my preceptor (by virtue of his book, for I 

 have not the honour to know him personally), Mr. 

 Goodwin, who seems to have given long and attentive 

 consideration to those contrivances. For myself, I 

 must observe, that I have never experienced or known 



