76 THE HORSE : ITS KEEP AND MANAGEMENT. 



to be cut out every month so that there is no pressure from 

 the shoe. 



A corn is a thing which grows very fast, and in three 

 weeks or a month's time, very often before the shoe is worn 

 out, the corn is so far developed that it often hurts the 

 horse before the shoe is removed. The owner of a horse 

 which has corns should always see that they are cut well 

 back. Those who have animals which have no corns 

 should endeavour to keep them free from them. This can 

 be done in most cases by keeping the hoof in good order. 

 When the horn is neglected or becomes hard, the foot gets 

 hot and dry, then if it is not seen to for a few days it 

 brings on fever, and the horn or hoof becomes very much 

 contracted, so much so that it will often show ridges on the 

 surface of the hoof. This means unsoundness in the foot at 

 once. If a horse's foot is not taken care of, the horn gets 

 so dry and brittle that it breaks all to pieces, and when the 

 farrier nails the shoe on, it often splinters like putting a nail 

 into brittle wood. When however the foot is seen to properly, 

 it is very seldom this occurs, as it keeps tough and elastic. 

 A horse's hoof should ahvays be kept fairly clean, and it 

 does it good to soak it in water, especially in hot 

 weather when the horse is running on hard roads. 



Horses used by gentlemen usually have greater care 

 bestowed upon their hoofs than ordinary horses which are 

 only used for business purposes, as they generally have a 

 little lamp black and oil rubbed over them. Goose grease 

 is a fine thing, and a little goes a long w^ay. The hoofs 

 should be washed perfectly clean, then the grease is rubbed in 



