HORSES CUTTING. 203 



ing tliem to such persons than by giving any opinion 

 of my own on the subject. This advice I will, how- 

 ever, venture to give — which is, not to buy a horse 

 who must wear one when used ; and if you have one, 

 sell him — he is a constant plague. 



Racehorses are so valuable that it would be unwise 

 to risk their taking their gallops, and still more so 

 their sweats, without boots ; but such as they wear 

 are too unsightly for common use, though a light 

 leather guard on a hind leg may be used on a favour- 

 ite having the failing of cutting ; but no boot can be 

 made fit to use in ordinary circumstances, combining 

 sightly appearance with efiicacy and comfort to the 

 horse. The India-rubber boot held out promise of 

 being all that could be wished. So it was when first 

 put on ; but if used in summer in hot weather, it 

 became so soft as to be useless, and in winter the 

 cold so contracted the substance it was made of, that 

 all elasticity was lost, and it became harder than 

 common leather. The only useful boot is one made 

 of kersey, and strong leather placed outside, where 

 the horse hits. These may be made a little more 



