HANDBOOK OF THE TURF. 95 



it may be flat ; full ; pumiced ; having bunions ; and with high, 

 low, or sloping heels ; it may be out-bowed ; club-foot ; cross- 

 foot, or crooked ; the foot may be soft ; dry ; brittle, or have 

 weak heels. The sound, healthy, perfect foot is by far the most 

 important part of the animal, and its care should receive the 

 closest and most intelligent attention. 



The unshod foot of a horse on favorabh? soil and snffioiently exercised, 

 is a type of beauty and perfeeliou. Coiiipared to the (ooi tiiat lias 

 bei-n'shod, if is lai'ue, strong, as wide as ioii<i, and in proper eiinilib- 

 rium— it, eonslitiiles a solid support.. Yiewv-d in Iroui ii is narrower 

 above tliau bcdow, more expanded exteinali> tlian internally, and 

 of equal heiglit at its quarters. Viewed in i)rotile, the line of toe 

 lias a mean iueiiuatiou of about fifty degrees for the lore, and sixty 

 degrees for the hind feel ; the lieiglit of tlie heels is eoual to at least 

 one-lialf of the height of the toe. Viewed from l)eliind, the heels 

 of the standard foot are well separated, equal, of the same height, 

 and fall vertically to the ground, especially the internal, which is 

 sensibly more vertical than the external. Viewed from below, its 

 sole is holh)W and thick, the frog strong, liealthy, and quite hard; 

 the bars neither too high, straight, nor too much inclined; the toe 

 and mainmae of the wall and the sole are perceptibly worn from 

 usage. The liorn of the sound foot is black or dark gray; the wall 

 smooth and shiny, showing its fibrous structure. Such are the 

 characteristics of the virgin foot. —The Exterior of the Horse, Gou- 

 baux and Barrier. 

 In the manifestation of his strength and the due performance of his 

 useful qualities the horse must rely upon the soundness of his feet, 

 as in them are concentrated the efforts created elsewhere, and on 

 them depeiui not only the sum total of tliese propulsive powers 

 being properly expended, but also the solidity and just equilibrium 

 of the whole animal fabric. Hence it is wisely considered that the 

 foot of the horse is the most important part of all the locomotory 

 system; and that all the splendid qualities possessed by tlie noble 

 creature may be diminisheil in value or hopelessly lost, if through 

 disease or accident, natural or acquired defects, or other causes, this 

 organ fails to perform its allotted task. — Horse Shoes and Horse 

 Shoeing, George Fleming, LL. D., F. R. C. V. S. 

 Many persons believe that feet with dark colored horn are stronger and 

 able to staiul the wear and tear of hard work better than the light 

 colored ones, but our experience has failed to demonstrate the truth 

 of this idea. The white foot will show the invasion of the part 

 by inflammation more percteptibly, which we think is the cause of 

 disease often being noticed in the white one when a similar com- 

 plaint would, and often does, pass unnoticed in the dark colored 

 foot.— Dr. E. A. A. Grange, V. S., Michigan Agricultural College 

 Experiment Station. 



Foot-board. An adjustable platform which is confined 

 to the rear of a break cart, upon which the driver can step and 

 ride, before he has sufficient confidence in his colt to warrant 

 him in mounting the seat. When not wanted it may be entirely 

 removed. 



Foot-scald. An injury caused by paring the sole too 

 close and then shoeing with light, thin shoes, causing tender- 

 ness in the foot. 



Force. That action between two bodies which changes 

 or tends to change their relative condition as to rest or motion ; 

 or which changes any physical relation between them. The 

 power exerted by a horse in motion, whether in drawing a load 

 or in the performance of great speed. 



