130 THE HORSE'S RESCUE. 



turn tip a little. If it does it must split at the toe or 

 break nown. I have seen colts' feet split from point of 

 toe to top of wall on both forward feet from this cause 

 that never had a shoe on, and have drawn them to- 

 gether with nails. That is the best way I ever tried. 

 It stops the cracks from springing apart at the top. If 

 you can do that on any plan the new hoof will grow 

 out sound. If you cannot do that, it will crack as fast 

 as it grows. There is no bending that lever on the 

 horse's foot, no matter how long it is made by ironing, 

 or allowed to grow, without producing injury in many 

 ways. It has joints and bones, but they are clothed 

 with a shell, and when out of harmony of action the 

 result is fearful. 



The horse's foot cannot be compared to man's, and 

 yet this is not all. He has four feet and legs to be bal- 

 anced on, which I have already remarked. 



Men ask sometimes if horses take cold from pulling 

 off their shoes! There is as much reason in asking^ 

 this question as there would be in asking if there was 

 danger of horses taking cold sleeping in the barn-yard 

 with the gate open. It all goes to show the ignoi'ance 

 of men concerning the horse. Their feet do get cold, 

 and the horses get cold all over and shiver and suffer; 

 they are as sensitive to pain as mankind; and irons 

 nailed on their feet, with a row of nails driven inside 

 of the shell half way to the hair, does make their feet 

 cold in frosty weather. The frost will follow the nails, 

 which are very close to the membrane. Nearly all 

 shoers fit the shoe so narrow the nails start inside of 

 the shell. The feet being bound up, and the struct- 

 ure all changed from natural, causes heat. That will 



