230 THE horse's rescue. 



botching and hurting about this business on the 

 horse's f oot-at any time on my horses or on any man's 

 horse. This is a rule I always have adhered to. The 

 best I can do, it will be bad enough for tlie horse in a 

 short time. I removed the boot; the foot had grown, 

 that is, the hoof had. There had not been any wear 

 on the hoof on this foot on account of the boot, and it 

 had useless hoof on. That did not effect her much in 

 pasture. I pulled all of this mare's shoes off when I 

 turned her out. This is the way to do with all horses. 

 Examining this mare's foot, the old sole was all loose, 

 or nearly so. I took it all off. Underneath there was 

 a new sole grown. At this time and stage of growth 

 it was white and soft and very tender. There was no 

 contraction. The foot had not had iron nailed on it. 

 It liad its libertv. 



I must get back to my shop and see to business 

 there. This foot must be fixed and this tender sole 

 and growth must be protected. If this is mutilated 

 now and she gets fever in her hoof it will ruin her. 

 She must have something to protect the sole for this 

 drive — a wide web, and a very thin, light shoe. It is 

 something of a chore to fix this foot up, to keep all 

 protected, and keep the mare sailing on the road and 

 not spoil her; and yet it can be done, and this is the 

 way to do it : The dirt and sand must all be kept out 

 of the foot. It will be necessary to have a piece of 

 calf-skin larsre enouo;h to cover over the bottom of the 

 foot and come up above the ankle, so as to form a 

 boot leg. For fear this might wear through on the 

 bottom and let in dirt and gravel, there must be 

 another thicker piece, the size of the foot, put over 



