44 TEE HORSE S FOOT, 



horse's legs ;- — and nature has implanted in most horses such 

 a lively mode of expressing their joy at the change from the 

 close atmosphere of the stable to the freshness of the open air, 

 that a kind of compact seems formed between pride and fear, 

 to extort for the poor beast at least sufficient exercise to keep 

 his legs fine and his exuberant spirits within ridable bounds. 



The only other subject requiring especial notice, is the 

 treatment of the foot in the stable, — the directions for which 

 are few and simple. The horny crust has a great tendency 

 in almost all feet to become dry and brittle, and to lose its 

 elasticit}^, which disposes it to curl inwards upon the internal 

 parts of the foot. This we should endeavor to preverit, as 

 much as possible ; and the best applications for that purpose 

 are grease and moisture : I name them in conjunction, be- 

 cause I think they should always be employed together 

 that is, the use of grease should always precede the applica- 

 tion of moisture. The latter will keep the horn soft and plia- 

 ble during the continuance of its application to the hoof; but 

 it is no sooner discontinued, than evaporation takes place, and 

 the horn becomes as hard and brittle as before : whereas, if 

 the hoof be well rubbed with some greasy mixture, so as to 

 fill the small spaces between the fibres of the horn, before 

 the damp is applied, the hoof will derive the full benefit of 

 the cold, and be left, when the evaporation is over, in a tough 

 and pliable condition. 



The following ointment will be found to answer the purpose 

 admirably, and, if it be freely used to the hoof every nigh< 

 and morning, will keep it in an elastic healthy state. To a 

 pound and a half of lard add a quarter of a pound of tar, a 

 quarter of a pound of honey, and a quarter of a pound of 

 beeswax : melt the lard and beeswax together, and stir in 

 ihe tar and honey, and if, when cold, it should be too hard, 

 remelt it and add a little olive-oiL 



Whenever there is heat in the foot, the use of cold water 

 for two or three hours at a time is often very serviceable, 

 and the best mode of applying it is to olace three or four 

 thicknesses of horse clothing together of nearly the depth of 

 the hoof, and having sewn the top edge^ together, attach a 

 small buckle and strap, and fasten it loosely around the pas- 

 tern joint above the hoof: plunge the foot into a bucket of 

 v/ater, and keep it there until the cloth is thoroughly saturated 

 with wet ; then remove the bucket, and allow the wet cloth 

 to remain on, rewetting it occasionally. This should never 

 be done when the horse's foot is heated from recent exercise, 



