16 HORSES AND HOUNDS. 



any young animals can be fed on : it will not only keep tliem in 

 good condition, but make tliem sleek and soft in their skins. 



During the winter months, the foals should be often handled, 

 and they will soon allow themselves to be rubbed dry, if wet, 

 and their feet to be taken up ; and for this purpose they should 

 be entrusted to the care of a good-tempered and patient person. 

 Boys are not to be trusted. When used to the head collar, they 

 may be led about the paddock, and soon out into the field, and 

 will require very little trouble afterwards in breaking. I may 

 here mention, as a caution, that the head collar should not be 

 allowed to remain on during the night, or longer than necessary 

 during the day, as I have known accidents occur from foals en- 

 deavouring to scratch them off, and getting their hind feet 

 entangled in the throat lash. Their being only accustomed to 

 the use of it, and being occasionally led about in the paddock 

 or field, will be a sufficient commencement of discipline^ for the 

 first season. It maybe thought scarcely necessary to impress 

 upon any one, who is at all acquainted with the management of 

 horses generally, the precaution that there be no accumulation 

 of filth in the sheds, and that young horses require, as well as 

 old ones, a suj»ply of fresh litter continually, as well as a good 

 ventilation. The feet of colts, the first season, require little 

 ttention, or, rather, meddling with. If dry or brittle, a little 

 ard should be rubbed over them, mixed with a very small pro- 

 portion of tar. If growing too long at the toe, they may be 

 pared back, but I would not allow any blacksmith to interfere 

 further, or touch the heel of the foot, as there is more mischief 

 done by hollowing and cutting out this (as some village prac- 

 titioners are in the habit of doing) than many are aware of. The 

 frog of a horse's foot is his chief support, and everything that 

 will weaken this should be carefully avoided : but by ignorant 

 blacksmiths the frog is so pared down, that the chief weight of 

 the animal is taken from the wide and even bearing of the frog 

 and hoof combined, and thrown almost entirely upon the sides 

 of the foot. The feet of foals should be as little interfered with 

 as possible, and this first formation is the model to which the 

 feet of horses throughout life should be as nearly as possible 

 assimilated. I have known horses' feet so pared down, that the 

 sole of the foot was not much thicker than a shilling, and thus 

 the agony caused by stepping on a stone would throw a horse 

 down. From the same cause arise corns. Instead of trying to im- 

 prove nature, it would be much better if these wiseacres of black- 

 smiths would be satisfied to conform to the model which is pre- 

 sented them in the formation of a foal's foot. The ignorance of 

 some village practitioners is only equalled by their obstinacy in 



