Shoeing and the Feet 271 



of, say, ten years, the mere reduction of the black- 

 smith's bills amoimts to what your horse cost; and 

 that in addition you then have an animal uninjured as 

 to legs and feet, and able so to continue until inca- 

 pacitated by disease or accident. 



There exists the necessity always (given a sub- 

 ject that has worn shoes for years) to allow time 

 for nature to reach the point where the vessels are 

 stimulated to produce, in sufficient quantity to repair 

 waste, the new material of the foot, to replace satis- 

 factorily the wear which the horn is, at first, too ten- 

 der to adequately resist. The foot must be tough- 

 ened, and be encouraged by proper moisture to rapid 

 growth ; and time must at first be frequently allowed 

 for rest, that this renewal may be commensurate with 

 wear. 



The all important point in using a barefooted 

 horse is to keep his feet growing, properly balanced, 

 and level. Wet swabs, etc., around the coronet 

 should be used nightly (at first) in order to stimulate 

 growth, etc., but after a few weeks nO' moisture 

 should be applied, save the ordinary washing, as it 



