274 Our Noblest Friend, The Horse 



them, as it must to preserve health in the horny 

 structures. 



If a horse has never been shod, it is astonishing 

 what an amount of steady wear the hoof will stand ; 

 but if he has worn shoes for years, he must take up 

 his changed conditions gradually. Any civilised 

 being who has worn boots during his lifetime can 

 go as barefooted as any savage, and that regularly, 

 and over the roughest ground if he will but begin 

 gradually, and progress carefully. It is thus also 

 with the horse, and the tip ensures the advantages 

 of the bare foot, yet prevents excessive wear at the 

 essential point, the toe. 



The trotter, pacer, and the fast road-horse must 

 be shod more or less elaborately ; the park and show 

 horse will not display his brilliant action without 

 suitable balancing, as by abnormally long toes, heavy 

 shoes, or both. The draught and work horse, the 

 express and car horse, need, as a general thing, pro*- 

 tection of the most enduring. The writer has had 

 sometimes as many as thirty thoroughbred yearlings 

 in his care for breaking and for training for their 



