APPENDIX TO SECOND EDITION. 163 



of horses the opportunity of inspecting the feet of a 

 horse that had done hard work on macadamized roads 

 without shoes, attracted considerable attention. Ex- 

 perienced farriers, huntsmen, farmers, tradesmen, and 

 gentlemen were to be seen in groups round the horse 

 all the afternoon, critically examining its hoofs. The 

 curiosity evinced was not surprising, nor the skepti- 

 cism with which the various inspections were made, 

 and not less noticeable was the general astonishment 

 and wonder expressed at the remarkable results of 

 Mr. Luck's experiment. It is so universally believed 

 (says The Darlington Times) that the shoeing of horses 

 is absolutely necessary, that it appeared almost in- 

 credible that an animal which had been unsound in 

 its feet could be made sound by abandoning shoeing ; 

 and more than this, that it could, after nearly a year's 

 ' regular work over country and town roads, show such 

 perfect hoofs. The development of the feet was a 

 constant source of wonder, and Mr. Luck, who cour- 

 teously explained the circumstances of the experiment, 

 must have been somewhat wearied at having to ex- 

 plain in detail so often how he had succeeded. It is 

 no exaggeration to say — indeed, it was admitted by all 

 who saw the animal — that no horse on the field pos- 

 sessed four sounder or better feet, and this simply by 

 allowing nature to have her own way. No task is 

 more difficult than to root out long-accepted ideas, 

 and we can scarcely expect that a tithe of those who 

 yesterday admitted the success so clearly demon- 

 strated will forthwith abandon shoeing as an un- 

 necessary practice ; but wherever men interested in 



Digitized by Microsoft® 



