ROAD HORSES. 1381 
this usually happens not from overdriving, but from 
allowing them to get cold, from watering them when 
they are hot, from feeding them when they are tired, 
and from general neglect. A tired roadster seldom 
gets a bed as deep and soft as he ought to have. The 
famous Mr. Splan remarks upon this point as follows: 
“What horses want is plenty of fresh air, to be com- 
fortably clothed, and to have a good bed at all times. 
No matter how well you feed or care for a man, if you 
put him in a bad bed at night he will be very apt to 
find fault in the morning, and I think it is the same 
with a horse.” The feet of a road horse also need at- 
tention, and his shoes are all-important. Most country 
blacksmiths do their work like butchers, paring and 
burning the foot to fit the shoe, instead of adapting 
the iron to the hoof. Still, within a radius of five or 
ten miles it is usually possible to discover a single 
good workman in this regard, and the traveller can get 
upon his track by inquiring of horsy men in the vicin- 
ity. Every village in New England contains at least 
one enthusiastic person who is raising colts with the 
confident expectation of turning out a $20,000 trotter. 
This man will know who is the good blacksmith of 
the neighborhood. 
A word or two may be permitted here concerning 
the harness of a road or driving horse. With a light 
carriage, and where the country is level, breeching can 
be dispensed with, and a well made horse commonly 
looks better without it. Blinders, again, or winkers, 
are usually superfluous. An intelligent horse once 
accustomed to an open bridle is apt to shy less thus 
harnessed, for he can look about more freely. Besides, 
in the case of a skittish horse, it is an advantage for the 
