THE horse's REKSL'E. 817 



When this takes piace, I have all I can do to stand on my feet; 



And contracted feet is the cause of my losing the heat. 



To pound me around on this hard irack in this way, 



I am always ten times worse for it the next day. 



If you could onl}^ see the inside of my poor feet, 



You could soon see the cause of my losing the heat. 



They may look to )ou all right on tlie outside, 



And yet for all that good horses as I have suffered and died 



From this cause that I am now teUing you about; 



And if you keep on, I will go the same way, no doubt. 



I cannot kist long pounded around this track every day, 



To have my feet contracted and bound up in this way. 



My suffering is very great; the cause is all in my feet; 



They pain me so day and night I cannot rest or sleep. 



Sore, and stiff, and sick, and lame you pound me through; 



1 assure you it is worse than death ; it may be fun for you. 



If you would cut my throat, let the blood out of my •» eiins, 



I would to you thankful be ; it would end all my pains. 



my God I is there never any relief or help to come ? 



Have I always got to suffer in this way— every day be run? 



Creator of me and all that is great, wise, and good. 



Is there no way that my suffering can be understood? 



my God ! in some way do to me send rehef I 



1 appeal to you now ; to my groans my driver seems deaf ; 

 For there must be a great first cause of all that is created, 

 And to that, hke all others, I must be related. 



I well know on me in creating you have made Ho such mistake ; 



That I cannot eat or drink, and from that cause no comfort take. 



I know myself where all of the cause is well enough, 



But I cannot talk and tell, and I assure you it is tough. 



It is not caused by anything that I have drank or eat; 



It is nearly all caused by botch-work done on my feet. 



It is caused sometimes by leaving my heels too low. 



That throws me back off my base so J cann«t go. 



If you leave my heels too high, it is no better, you can see, 



That will throw me off my base, cock ankle, and tip my knee. • 



If you dress my hoof, and get it all right to a fraction, 



To look at may yet be out of harmony of action. 



Imternallv the structure may badly changed be ; 



