342 STABLE ECONOMY. 



Fig. 21. 



unless the horse can be made to alter his pace, by Keeping his 

 head well up. 



The fore-shoes of clicking horses should be short and hav- 

 ing the web broad. When too long, they are apt to be torn 

 off; when too narrow, the hind-foot bruises the sole of the 

 fore one, and may be locked fast between the breaches of the 

 shoe. Hunters, however, must have the web narrow, for a 

 broad shoe makes them slip on tough ground. It must be so 

 narrow that it will not catch the hind foot. 



Losing a Shoe. — When a shoe gets loose on the road, pro- 

 ceed cautiously to the nearest forge. A fast pace will throw 

 the shoe, and break the foot. Should the shoe be hanging off, 

 or twisted across the foot, pull it away entirely, and remove 

 any loose nails that might run into the foot. The loss of a 

 shoe in the hunting field is a sad misfortune. If the ground 

 be soft, and the foot strong, the horse may proceed till the 

 sport be finished, when he may be led home, or to the nearest 

 forge. A hind foot receives less injury than a fore one. 

 Sportsmen sometimes carry a shoe, and set of nails, along 

 with them. The shoe is jointed, that it may fit any of the feet. 

 Mr. W. Percivall has invented a sandal, which promises to be 

 of great use. It is secured by straps, and the rider can ad- 

 just it himself. It saves the foot until a shoe can be applied ; 

 and, over some pieces of ground, it will carry the horse even 

 at a hunting pace. Mr Percivall has made it patent. It may 

 be procured by sending a paper outline of the horse's foot, to 

 Tate, saddler, Park Street, Grosvenor Square ; or to Townes 

 and Son, 141, Cheapside, London. Its cost is half a guinea. 

 The following figures (Fig. 22) represent it on and off the foot. 



Falling. — Horses sometimes fall on the side, sometimes 

 on the head, and sometimes back upon the haunches ; but 

 most frequently they fall upon their knees. A saddle-horse 



