176 THE HORSE 



horn being of too dry a nature, beneficial results may be 

 looked for by standing the animal in wet swabs at night. 

 Horses turned out in a field generally have horn of tough 

 texture, and they are usually subjected to moisture from 

 evening dews, in the absence of rain, to be followed on the 

 succeeding day by the drying action of the sun. The rings 

 on the hoof at the end of a summer's run give a plain 

 indication of what the weather has been, the horn having 

 grown with increased rapidity in spells of wet weather, 

 while there has been a corresponding diminution of growth 

 during periods of prolonged drought. 



Under the heel of the foot is situated the frog, an elastic 

 cushion designed to obviate the shock of concussion, when 

 the foot is placed upon the ground. It serves another 

 purpose also— that of keeping the bars apart, and preventing 

 thereby the foot becoming contracted. Every effort should 

 be made to preserve a full, well-developed frog ; and it 

 should not be pared with the shoeing-smith's knife, beyond 

 trimming away any portions which have become ragged. 

 These, however, should be cleared away, since they would 

 otherwise become pockets for the reception of mud and 

 dirt, and when this gets saturated with ammonia, as it is 

 sure to do in the stable from the horse treading upon its 

 own evacuations, diseased horn will sooner or later make 

 its appearance. It was with a view to prevent such occur- 

 rences that the old-fashioned practice arose of stopping the 

 feet with a mixture of clay and cow-dung, the latter being 

 mild in its action compared to horse manure, as all gardeners 

 know full well. The worst effects arise, however, from the 

 feet getting soaked by urine, from standing on thoroughly 

 saturated straw, through deficient drainage. 



Inside the hoof the arrangements are complicated, several 

 objects having to be kept in view. The weight of the horse 

 has to be sustained ; the extensor tendon must have a firm 

 attachment to be able to bring the foot forward ; and the 

 flexor must similarly be arranged for to withdraw the foot ; 

 whilst all must be protected from injury by concussion. To 

 provide for the first requirement the lower pastern is 

 supported by two bones, the chief being the bone of the 



