14 



Colts in the stable can not wear down their hoofs,, so that every four 

 to six weeks they should be rasped down and the lower edge of the 

 wall well rounded to prevent chipping. The soles and clefts of the 

 frog should be picked out every few days and the entire hoof washed 

 clean. Plenty of clean straw litter should be provided. Hoofs that 

 are becoming "awry" should have the wall shortened in such a man- 

 ner as to straighten the foot-axis. This will ultimately produce a 

 good hoof and will improve the position of the limb. 



CHARACTERISTICS OF A HEALTHY HOOF. 



A healthy hoof (figs. 1 and 8) is equall} r warm at all parts, and is not 

 tender under pressure with the hands or moderate compression with 



pincers. The coronet is soft 

 and elastic at all points and 

 does not project beyond the 

 surface of the wall. The wall 

 (tig. 8) is straight from coronet 

 to ground, so that a straight- 

 edge laid against the wall from 

 coronet to ground parallel to 

 the direction of the horn tubes 

 x* will touch at every point. The 

 wall should be covered with 

 the outer varnish-like layer 

 (periople) and should show no 

 cracks or clefts. Every hoof 

 shows "ring-formation," but 

 the rings should not be strongly 

 marked and should always run 

 parallel to the coronary band. 

 Strongly marked ring-forma- 

 tion over the entire wall is an 

 evidence of a weak hoof, but 

 when limited to a part of the 

 wall is evidence of previous 

 local inflammation. The bulbs of the heels should be full, rounded, 

 and of equal height. The sole (fig. 1) should be well hollowed out, 

 the white line solid, the frog well developed, the middle cleft of the 

 frog broad and shallow, the spaces between the bars and the frog wide 

 and shallow, the bars straight from the buttresses toward the point of 

 the frog, and the buttresses themselves so far apart as not to press 

 against the branches of the frog. A hoof can not be considered healthy 

 if it presents reddish discolored horn, cracks in the wall, white line, 

 bars, or frog, thrush of the frog, contraction or displacement of the 

 heels. The lateral cartilages should yield readily to finger pressure. 



179 



Fig. 1. — Ground surface of a right fore hoof of the regu- 

 lar form: a, a, wall; a-a, the toe; a-b, the side walls; 

 b-d, the quarters; c, c, the bars; d, d, the buttresses; 

 e, lateral cleft of the frog; /, body of the sole; g, g', g", 

 leafy layer (white line) of the toe and bars; h, body 

 of the frog; i, i, branches of the frog: k, k, horny bulbs 

 of the heels; I, middle cleft of the frog. 



