BRUSHING. 87 



Brushing 



is caused by the outer edge of the inner quarter of a shoe, or, some- 

 times, by the rough clenches of its nails, wounding the opposite 

 leg, generally on the fetlock. Sometimes the injury is inflicted 

 higher up ; or on the coronet ; or even on the hoof. Owing to its 

 retired position, the pastern is seldom hurt in this manner. 



It may be due to weakness, in which case, with increased strength, 

 the habit frequently leaves the animal; to fatigue; to defective 

 conformation, especially when the horse "turns out his toes; " to 

 the fact of the outer portion of the foot being higher than the inner, 

 an arrangement which will cause the fetlock joint to be inclined 

 inwards ; to the irritating presence of mange insects (symhiotes, 

 p. 136), which prompts the animal to hit and scratch his legs; etc. 



niEVENTIVE MEASURES.— "When brushing is caused by the 

 fact of a horse turning out his toes, lowering the wall of the outside 

 portion of the foot which gets hit, will generally serve to remove 

 the fetlock out of the line in which the offending foot moves, and 

 is, I have found, a better plan than thickening the inside half 

 of the shoe. The wall of the foot which inflicts the wound 

 should not be thinned by rasping, which Avould weaken a part 

 that is intended to bear weight. Lowering the toes of the hoof, 

 and leaving the heels alone, so as to make the foot more up- 

 right, Avill also help as a rule to prevent brushing. With this 

 object in view, the horse may have to be shod, or his shoes re- 

 moved, once every three weeks. Horses will rarely brush, if 

 allowed to go bare-foot, or if shod with light tips. 



If these measures do not succeed, a boot somewhat similar to an 

 over-reaching boot (Figs. 34 and 35), but shorter and made so as to 

 si)ecially j^rotect the fetlock joint, or a thick india-rubber ring may 

 be worn. A guard may be constructed out of a bit of woollen cloth 

 about a foot broad, with a jDiece of tape sewn on to it and placed in 

 the direction of its length. Two or three turns are taken round the 

 fetlock and leg, care being observed to keep all the turns on the 

 same level. The tape is now passed round the leg and tied in a knot 

 (Fig. 37), and the uj^per part of the cloth is turned over the lower 

 half, so as to form an efficient boot (Fig. 38). The tape should be 

 attached nearer to the lower edge of the cloth than to the ujoper 

 edge, so that when the cloth is turned down, its two edges may be on 

 the same level. The use of this cloth boot should only be a tem- 

 porary measure ; for the jDressure of the tape, if continued, will be 

 apt to leave a mark on the hair. Blackwell's guards (Fig. 33) are 

 very useful with horses which brush on the coronet. 



