SHOEING. 75 



the back of the pasterns. If the stall were daily swept 

 and littered, it would tend veiy much to the health of 

 the foot, as well as to the comfort of the animal. The 

 feet should not be kept either too moist or too dry, as 

 either extreme is injurious. They should be dressed 

 regularly every fourth week, in the same way as if they 

 were to be shod. If this is done vdih judgment and 

 discretion, they will be brought into the most suitable 

 form, and the animal will turn out much more valuable 

 than if it had been neglected or injudiciously dealt 

 with. 



SHOEING. 



It would be foreign to my present purpose to enter at 

 any length on the question of shoeing, but I think it 

 advisable to make a few obsei'vations on one or two 

 points. 



The operation of shoeing should be performed every 

 fom'th or fifth week, according as the hoof may be 

 active in its growth, or otherwise. If the growth of 

 horn is very rapid, the heels will require to be lowered, 

 and the toes shortened, at the end of fom- weeks ; but 

 if it is slow, the shoes should not be changed before 

 the end of the fifth week. Unless there is some 

 special reason for it, however, they must not be per- 

 mitted to remain on longer than this. I am quite cer- 

 tain many horses have the shape of their feet com- 

 pletely spoiled by wearing their shoes beyond the pro- 



