278 THE HORSES RESCUE. 



principles that will be of use to the horse and his 

 owner. My life I never intended to write, and I well 

 know no one else can. Neither do I care to spend rny 

 time in that way. So I will hasten along with this 

 work. While battling in this town a man came to my 

 shop to get a horse shod. His Ran>e was Wix. He 

 was a teamster. His was a large, middle-aged horse, 

 ihin in flesh. He was badly off. It was all he could 

 do to stand ; he was thrown back off his base on all 

 of his legs; his hind feet wei'e thrown forward so 

 much by this same cause I have written of that he 

 appeared about to go over backwards. 



"Mr. Wix," said I, '"that horse is so far gone I do 

 not think I can balance him by shoeing; and I do not 

 think he can stand on the other leg if I was strong 

 enough to hold him up. He will break down on one 

 leg. He cannot stand, that I knovv^ ; but I will try 

 him." 



After balancing him on his .forward feet first, whicji 

 helped him some, I tried him on one hind foot. After 

 lifting and tugging a long time, with a large proportion 

 of this heavy horse's weight thrown on me, Mr. Wix 

 on the opposite side tr^Mng to hold him up, that is, 

 from going over sidewise, I finally, by main strength, 

 raised his foot. The other leg gave out, being able to 

 hold but very little w-eight. The lever tipped him 

 over*, and down he went flat on the floor. Mr. Wix 

 pounded him, and after struggling a wdiile he managed 

 to get on his feet again. This was in the heat of the 

 Burnmer, and a very hot day. 



" Mr. Wix," said I, " this horse will not be of use 

 to you if we do shoe him ; he cannot be balanced by 



