MANAGEMENT OF THE FEET. 129 



moisture may be given to the crust by means of a swab. The 

 clay-box is not good for thrushy feet, but in trifling cases 

 the frog may be protected by a pitch or other waterproof cov- 

 ering. 



Shoeing. — Many stablemen, especially those employed in 

 livery stables, are very careless as to the slate of the horse's 

 feet and his shoes. The shoes are often worn till they drop 

 off in the middle of a journey, and time is lost, the foot bro- 

 ken or destroyed, and very likely the horse lamed. This is 

 not the only evil. If the horse be doing little work, or be 

 very light on his shoes, they may remain on too long. Fast- 

 working horses require to have the feet pared down once every 

 month, whether they need new shoes or not. When the horn 

 is permitted to accumulate, the horse's action is fettered ; he 

 can not step out ; he can not place his foot firmly on the ground, 

 and he is very liable to corns. If he had no shoes, the horn 

 would be worn away faster than it could be replaced, but the 

 shoe prevents nearly all wear, and does not stop the growth. 

 Hence at certain intervals the superfluous horn must be pared 

 away. A month is the usual time. Some horses having a 

 deficiency of horn, may go five weeks or more ; while others 

 that wear their shoes very fast, may require a new set every 

 three weeks. Farm-horses often go for six or eight weeks 

 with one set of shoes. If the heels be strong they may not 

 be injured by this. Their work is different, and their feet 

 are different. If the slioes of fast-workers are not worn out 

 at the end of a month, the feet should be pared, and the old 

 shoes can be replaced. When the heels are weak, or the 

 seat of corns, the shoes may require removal every three 

 weeks. 



The shoe and its mode of application must always vary 

 according to the horse's weight and action, the state of his 

 foot, the rate at which he travels, the state of the road, and 

 the nature of his work in reference to carrying, drawing, and 

 leaping. To shoe horses properly, all or the most of these 

 circumstances have to be considered. But this is not the 

 place to describe either the kind of shoe, or the mode of ap- 

 plying it. In general, both should be left to the smith. He 

 knows little about his business if he requires instructions 

 from his employer. Those who work in large towns and 

 have much to do, know all the books from which an employ- 

 er derives that which he would teach. 



The shoes should be examined v/lien the horse comes from 

 his work, and again when he is going to it. If there be a 



