tips. 301 



But then what form of shoe is not occasionally lost 

 during a burst over such land ? 



TIPS. 



These are half-shoes, extending only around the 

 foe, put on in order to preserve the crust from being 

 battered and torn when the horse is ridden or turned 

 out. The quarters are left perfectly unfettered ; and 

 it is on account of the hoofs being comparatively free 

 that the feet of a horse with contraction often seem to 

 derive so much good from a run at grass. The ad- 

 vantage of the tips may be carried still farther : every 

 horse that is soiled during the summer should wear 

 tips. If a horse be turned into a loose box, only for 

 a week or two, he should have tips. Harm can hardly 

 be produced by them ; but, on the other hand, mucli 

 benefit generally ensues from this comparatively un- 

 fettered state of the foot. Moreover, the late Mr. 

 Percival when near his death acquainted the author 

 that he had for years ridden a nag over London 

 streets and country roads with no greater protection 

 to the feet than tips could afford. Such testimony 

 from a gentleman whose life was shortened by the 

 scientific research to which it was devoted, should re- 

 ceive the consideration of every man who complains 

 of the injuries done to the horse's feet by the present 

 mode of shoeing. 



