LOCKJAW. 105 



pleased, when I told him to go home and walk 

 around in shoes, one with a heel and one without, 

 and see how lame he'd go, without trying." 



There are many different causes for lameness, of 

 course? 



" So many that it is a proof of much care, that we 

 see so few lame horses in the street. An unprinci- 

 pled stableman, knowing all the tricks of the trade, 

 in order to spare himself a day's uncongenial labor, 

 can quickly lame a horse, without doing him more 

 than a passing injury. These things are so common 

 that before examining a horse just developing some 

 trouble, I make a sort of detective's inspection of 

 the groom, and seek to learn something of his habits, 

 inclinations, etc. A pin in the fetlock, a hair from 

 the tail, threaded in a needle, and run through the 

 outer and middle tendons of the front leg, and cut off 

 close so that nothing appears, are some of the 

 detestable tricks occasionally resorted to out of 

 petty revenge, which I mention only as a warning to 

 trusting owners." 



What are your notions about clipping. Count? 



"Among some of the best horsemen there is a 

 strong prejudice against clipping a horse, thus 

 depriving him, during the cold weather, of the warm 

 coat Nature provides. It would be most cruel to 

 do this, when a horse, by reason of neglect, was per- 

 mitted to stand after heating exercise, without being 

 well blanketed." 



I suppose the argument against clipping is that it 

 is against nature? 



"Yes, that is the strongest argument, but as stab- 



