THE HORSE, HOW TO SHELTER. 143 



about the frog. Examine the frog to see that no substance is wedged 

 therein, and that no nail or other sharp object has pierced the sole. If 

 the hoofs are inclined to be hard and dry, fill them with a mixture of 

 cow-dung and clay, or with oakum saturated with tar and petroleum. 

 Watch them for contraction of the hoof, caused by allowing the shoe to 

 remain on too long, or from bad shoeing. If the frog gets torn and rag- 

 ged, cut the ragged edges but leave the frog intact. If the hoof be found 

 pierced with a nail, and you are not perfectly sure you have pulled out' 

 every bit, cut it out at whatever labor it may be to you, or pain to the 

 animal. Then dress the wound with a pledget of tow saturated with tar. 

 If the hoofs are inclined to be hard and brittle, oil them occasionally, or 

 let the horse stand, say for an hour or two, or for a half day on Sunday, 

 in a box of soft clay and cow-manure, coming prettywell up the hoofs. 

 Thus by the exercise of care and judgment you may keep the feet, what 

 they ought to be, the better part of the horse. 



Xiil. Blanketing— When Necessary. 



A blanket is always necessary when the horse is standing in the stable 

 in Winter. A light sheet is about as necessary in Summer, during fly 

 time. A blanket should always be thrown over the horse in cold weathev, 

 or even in the cool weather of Spring and Autumn, when standing after 

 being driven. A horse should always be blanketed when standing in a 

 draft, or in the rain, using a cloth or rubber blanket as the case may be. 



In blanketing a horse, see that the blanket is sufficiently large to cove^ 

 the animal from the neck to the tail, see also that the breast flaps are 

 sufficient to protect this sensitive part, and that the blanket is Urge 

 enough to cover the sides and flank fully. If nov^ do not buy it at any 

 price. Buy a blanket for each horse, and having them use them when 

 necessary, buckling them on so they will stay. Very many stable-men 

 have a number of blankets for each horse ; this is well enough if they can 

 afford it, but one blanket to each horse, with enough in reserve so a dry 

 blanket may be had as occasion requires, and with a good surciMgle to 

 •ach blanket, is all that is really necessary. 



Xrv. Proper Tools for the Stable. 



The tools necessary for cleaning a horse properly may be very few or 

 many. As a rule any horse may be properly cleaned with a scraper, a 

 curry comb, a brush, a sponge, a comb, a wisp of straw, and a rubbing 

 cloth. Horse pails both for washing the horse and for watering are in. 

 dispensable to any stable but never use one for the other. These shoulcj 



