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Nature designed the horse's foot for use on the sodded 

 ground. But man demands that it shall be made to 

 endure constant use on the hard gravel road or the paved 

 street. Hence the necessity of shoeing. 



It should be done with the least amount of iron or 

 steel that will j)rotect the foot from injury, while he is 

 travelling on the road. 



For the common driving or family horse, we deem the 

 plain flat shoe the best, and all that is required while the 

 ground is free from ice and snow. Steel is better than 

 iron, because it can be made lighter and stiffer of the same 

 weight. We opine that the day is not far distant, when 

 the fleetest of our racing horses will wear the shoe made 

 of aluminum. The frog should be allowed to touch the 

 ground at every step, and the horse will be surer footed 

 thereby. Great heavy shoes and clumsy calks, are an 

 abomination to the horse, and should be to his considerate 

 owner. When from the icy condition of our roads, it is 

 necessary to have sharpened calks, always dull the 

 inside calk on the hind shoe. The natural growth of the 

 hoof will require that the shoes be reset, every three or 

 four weeks, whether they be tight or loose. 



Harness. — For common driving and work when not over 

 live hundred pounds will be the average load, the common 

 breastplate is most desirable, coolest and easiest and 

 quickest put on, and most comfortable for the horse. Let 

 the bridle be open, giving the horse an unobstructed view 

 of all objects, which soon become familiar. 



The horse starts and tries to shun fancied dangers, 

 because he hears more than he sees. 



If you blind his sight, stuff his ears with cotton, to the 

 same degree. I would not discard the check, but make 

 it of such length that wlien the animal is moving at his 

 natural gait, it will be loose and not tight. The horse 

 without check, while standing hitched or not, is prone to 

 be nosing around on the ground and liable to get into 



