204 PRECEPT AND PRACTICE. 



sightly by being of strong thick cloth, the colour on 

 the horse's leg, in lieu of the ordinary kersey. 



One of the great objections to the usual preventives 

 to a horse wounding his legs is the not being able to 

 keep them stationary. If they are put on tight 

 enough to effect this, their tension on any joint to a 

 certain degree impedes its phability: if left more 

 loose, they get out of place, and chafe by friction and 

 the dirt getting between the straps that fasten them 

 and the leg. These straps are usually made simply 

 of leather. I always had them lined with kersey ; it 

 makes them softer, but the lining has a greater advan- 

 tage — not,nike the leather, being slippery, it keeps its 

 hold better than a smoother surface. Boots such as 

 racehorses wear are easily kept in their place, being 

 made of kersey, and only stiff leather put on inside ; 

 the straps and buckles outside (the leg being flat) 

 prevent them moving. But guards for the ankles are 

 a great plague ; the joint is round, and it must be 

 evident to firmly fix anything on a round of any 

 kind is very difficult ; hence, the chief motive I had 

 for lining the leather straps. It is almost needless to 



