THE HORSE 119 



nicer; furthermore, it is urged by advocates of 

 the practice that horses will be liable to slip upon 

 the bare floor, but this rarely if ever occurs. This 

 standing on the bedding, and the consequent con- 

 tinual wetness of the floor, is the most fruitful 

 cause of thrush, and probably, indirectly, causes 

 more broken knees than is generally realized. The 

 bedding should always be removed in the day- 

 time, and, if possible, put outside, where it will 

 get purified and dried by the au' and sun. The 

 stable floor will thus become clean and dry, and 

 the result of these measures will be apparent in 

 the health of the feet of the horses so treated. 

 The half measure of thrusting the straw under 

 the manger, where its presence is injurious to eyes 

 and lungs, is worse on the whole than leaving it 

 down on the floor, and every horse-owner should 

 insist on its entire removal for a few hours during 

 the daytime. 



Washing Feet 

 It is the custom in some stables to wash the 

 feet of horses when they come in from exercise or 

 work. The prevalence of cracked heels, grease, 

 thrush, and other evils which more or less inca- 

 pacitate a horse for the work which he has to 



