11G HORSE MANAGEMENT IN INDIA. 



plate ; in fact, a compromise between the plate and shoe 

 used in training. Such an one for an Arab will weigh 

 about 3 oz., and ought to last through three weeks' 

 work, and may be made five-eighths of an inch broad 

 all round. Plates and light shoes may have a clip in 

 front for the fore-feet, to give them additional hold. 

 Nails for plates should be much lighter than those for 

 ordinary shoes. An English plate, such as those used 

 at Newmarket, weighs about 3 oz. ; is about J inch 

 broad ; J inch thick ; and is fullered. They are made 

 out of specially prepared bars of iron. The hind, as 

 well as the fore plates, have, usually, clips in front. 



Mr. Darvell recommends, " if a horse's feet are weak 

 and low, and he has to run on hard ground, it would 

 be advisable to let him run in his shoes." 



Tips. We may briefly sum up the chief evils result- 

 ing from the use of shoes as follows : They tend to 

 deprive the sole and frog of pressure, which, as a rule, 

 is conducive to the health of the foot ; the nails are 

 liable to break away the wall ; and the weight of the 

 shoes tends to spoil the action of race-horses, by making 

 them go " higher " than they ought to do in the gallop. 

 For these reasons, and on account of the fact that the 

 hoof wears away principally at the toe ; " tips," say, 

 about three inches in length, may often be employed, 

 with advantage, instead of ordinary shoes, and, 

 especially, for animals that are not required to work on 

 metalled roads. Mr. Tom Jennings, the celebrated 

 trainer, was accustomed, for many years, to use only 

 very short tips just sufficient to protect the toes for 

 his horses, both in training and racing. He was forced, 

 however, to discontinue this very sensible practice, on 



