HANDBOOK OF THE TURF. 125 



tute the quarters; the rear parts on the ground surface the 

 heels. The general shape is that of the half of a cylinder -cut 

 obliquely across its middle, and resting on the surface of this 

 section. In nearly all feet, however, it is slightly conical. 

 Specifically the hoof is separated into these portions, viz : the 

 wall ; the sole ; the frog. The wall is the outer portion of the 

 hoof, and is divided into a hard, fibrous covering called the 

 crust ; and a soft, inner layer of non-fibrous horn. The sole 

 is a thick horny plate between the border of the wall and its 

 reflected prolongations, occupying what is termed the inferior 

 face of the hoof. The frog is a mass of horn, pyramidal in 

 snape, situated between the two re-entering portions of the 

 wall, having a base, four sides and a summit. Within this 

 box or hoof is contained the coffin, navicular and part of the 

 small pastern bones; the sensitive laminae; the plantar 

 cushion, and the lateral cartilages. Generally the hoofs of the 

 fore feet are broader and rounder in front ; those of the hind 

 feet narrower and more pointed. The right and left hoofs of 

 either leg can be distinguished by observing that the inner 

 edge of the wall is flatter and the outer edge more convex. 



The hoof groAvs more rapidly in warm, dry climates, than in cold, Avet 

 ones; in healthy, energetic animals, tlian in those which are soft 

 and weak; during exercise, than repose; in young, than in old 

 anlnials. In winter it widens, becomes softer and grows but little; 

 in summer it is condensed, becomes more rigid, concave and resist- 

 ing, is exposed to severer wear, and grows more rapidly. This 

 variation is a provision of Nature to enable the hoof to adapt itself 

 to the altered conditions it has to meet— hard horn to hard ground; 

 soft horn to soft ground.— Horse Shoes and Horse Shoeing, George 

 Fleming, LL.D., M. R. C. V. S. 



In a state of Jiature the hoof preserves its form and qualities under 

 the following conditions: 1. Its elasticity is complete when the 

 frog is in full relation with the ground; 2, its constant use main- 

 tains a proper length and a regular axis; 3, the sole has all its 

 thickness, all its strength, and prevents contraction of the heels; 

 4, the hairs of the coronet cover and protect the cutidure, the 

 varnish of the wall, (periople), protects the horn against alterations 

 of dryness atid humidity; 5, the moisture of the soil, the dew, and 

 the freshness of the pasture maintaining it in a state of humidity 

 favorable to the preservation of its form. It requires about eight 

 months for the production of a completely new hoof. All loss of 

 substance to the wall is therefore reduced very slowly; whence 

 the lesson is taught that we should avoid this loss as much as 

 possible. The healthy foot is a very beautiful object.— Exterior of 

 the Horse, Armand Gouboux and Gustave Barrier. 



Hopping. Wobbling; the motion of going crooked 

 behind. In doing so the horse shortens the stride of one hind 

 foot, places it under or between his fore feet and carries the 

 other one out, thus causing the hip to hop or wobble behind. 

 Some horses will hop and go sideways to avoid scalping, hit- 

 ting shins or quarters. The remedy then consists in skillful 

 shoeing and proper booting. Some horses will hop when their 

 heads are checked out of a natural position, either too high or 

 too low. Radical changes in shoeing, such as changing light 



