132 HUMANE HORSE-TRAINING 



be cured by shoeing with a heavy shoe in front and 

 a light shoe behind. 



Of course, dealers always have their horses well shod 

 by an expert farrier, and when the new owner takes the 

 horse to be shod at the village blacksmith's, and ordinary 

 shoes are fitted, they begin to wonder what is wrong 

 when the horse begins to brush, speedy cut or click. 



I could relate many more instances that would open 

 the eyes of the unwary, but I think I have said enough 

 to show that a man when buying a horse at a fair, re- 

 pository, or from an advertisement, should not do so 

 with his eyes closed. It is always best to have a week's 

 trial and a practical veterinary surgeon's advice. 



Horses with large heads that are out of proportion 

 to their bodies should be avoided, for the head governs 

 the body. I always admire a small head — " Herring 

 head," lean and uniform — for such a head denotes 

 intelligence and docility, and when a body is governed 

 by such a head you can depend the animal will be a 

 sensible one. A horse with a big head is usually stubborn 

 and lacks average intelligence. 



