340 



STABLE ECONOMY. 



In almost every case, except when the horse is tired, this can 

 be prevented by the shoeing-smith, who may apply a shoe 

 like that represented in Fig. 18. When he can not, or when 

 the fetlock is much swollen, a boot must be worn something 

 like that represented in Fig. 19. It is nothing but a piece of 

 cloth tied over the middle, with its upper half folded over the 

 string. A leather flap is in use ; it covers only the inside of 

 the joint, and is secured by a single strap. It is apt to turn 

 round and leave the part undefended. 



Speedy cut is an injury of the same kind, and is produced 

 in the same way, only the leg is struck higher up, and when 

 the horse is going fast. The only way of preventing it is to 

 cover the leg with a boot (see Fig. 19), A B or to apply a 





pad to the foot which strikes the leg. The boot does best ; 

 when on, the knee-joint must be quite free, and the tendons 

 must have no inconvenient pressure. The pad will not sit on 

 every foot, but it sometimes answers very well. It should be 

 stuffed with horse-hair, and made to go quite round the foot. 

 It is secured by a single strap and buckle, and is about an 

 inch and a half broad. 



Over-reaching. — The heel and the pastern are sometimes 

 struck by the hind-foot. Most frequently it is the heel, just 

 where the hoof joins the skin. It happens only in fast paces, 

 in leaping, or galloping over deep ground. Horses with short 

 backs are most liable. A semicircular wound is made ; the 

 skin is raised like a flap, which folds backward and down- 



