THE horse's rescue. .. 45 



These poor cripples are coming and going while I 

 am sitting bv the window over my shop writing this 

 work, and it bothers me, but I must do it. 



Well, let us fix this lame foot. Let us work on 

 principle, and see how that will work. Let us shorten 

 that lever purchase. How much ? Tliat foot has 

 been shod six months; and the toe was too peaked 

 when it was shod^- and it was left about three-quarters 

 of an inch too long then. It has been growing ever 

 since. It takes about one year for a foot to grow 

 from the hair down. This foot, when natural, from 

 hair down, would be about five inches. It has grown 

 half a year, and was about one inch too long when 

 shod. According to this figuring, this foot is three 

 inches and a half too long. That is a trifle too much. 

 Let us do away with that lever purchase by shorten- 

 ing the foot. We better raise the heels a little, for it 

 is going to grow longer. It is growing now; but we 

 cannot see it. Now it is shod. See where his foot is 

 x^ow — back of straight, weight in center. • Sore some; 

 it will be all right in ten days, I will warrant for a 

 cent. The same all round ; like causes produce like 

 effects. We have got this foot fixed. Let us walk 

 him around. Golly ! we have lamed him on the 

 otber foot. The fact is, he was lame on both. The 

 lever was the longest on the one we fixed first. That 

 is, this principle effects all horses, shod or not, in a 

 greater or less degree. This is a flat foot. I have 

 changed him some, and that effects him. He does 

 hardly know how to use his legs. His ankles are a 

 little weak, caused by this sudden change. Exercise 

 will soon bring him out all right Yet, with all this 



