THE horse's rescue. 291 



was nearly over the center of his feet, and yet it did 

 not press the sole down. This was a hard-meated, 

 sti-ong, ambitious horse. This sole must be got down 

 according to the degree I have spread bis foot, or there 

 will be trouble. To do this I led him out of the shop. 

 He was badly off his base, caused by my spreading 

 his feet. His feet internally were very sore ; any 

 change either way would affect him badly. A num- 

 ber were standing around. I put a boy on the horse 

 and told him to run him a hundred rods and back, 

 The road was drv and hard. After he returned I 

 looked to see if the sole had come down. I cleaned 

 the dirt all out under the shoe. It was not down as 

 far as it ought to come by spreading his feet three- 

 eights of an inch. "Grive him another sail." I looked 

 to see what effect that had. The sole was nearly down 

 flat on the shoe. "That will do." It made him step 

 short. His feet must be put in warm water a short 

 time. Next, pack his feet, give him a good, dry, soft 

 bed, so he can lie down and rest and sleep. 



Of course w^hile this running business w-as going on 

 in the streets, it called out remarks. Some said they 

 would not have a stiff horse used that wav. All this 

 bugling I cared nothing about. I knew w4iat I was 

 doing and they did not. I was the owner of the horse 

 and could control him. It took this horse ten or 

 twelve days to recover every time I expanded his feet, 

 and tbat I did once a month for a long time. Some- 

 times I would be sailing all right, or nearly so ; once a 

 month I would be partly wrecked. Every time this 

 took place, I could hear this : "That horse is worse; 

 I guess you will never do much for that horse. 



