EVERY MAN HIS OWN TRAINER. II9 



foot, you will find that he has more stride with the opposite 

 or left forward foot, and if you add to the weight of the W* off 

 forward shoe one and a half to two and a half ounces, and I 

 have added- as high as four ounces, that will make an equal 

 stride of the front feet, which must cause an equal stride of 

 the hind feet. If you are carrying all the weight that is neces- 

 sary reduce the weight of the right forward shoe in the same 

 ratio as above directed, which will produce the same result. If 

 they go between with the left hind foot reverse the above in- 

 struction. After the horse gets age and is thoroughly gaited 

 he will in most cases go with a shoe of equal weight in front. 

 While this is the easiest and best way to remedy this fault, it 

 is also the best for your horse, as the weight necessary to cor- 

 rect it is carried by the forward feet and thereby relieves the 

 hind legs, and as they are the propelling power to drive the 

 machinery and draw the weight, they consequently should not 

 carry one ounce more than is necessary to protect the foot 

 until every other means is exhausted in perfecting your 

 horse's gait. In my whole experience I have found but one 

 horse that I was compelled to load behind, anjd that was after 

 experimenting for over a year with every other means without 

 success. That was over ten years ago and with my knowl- 

 edge to-day I believe if I had him now I could regulate his 

 gait without weighting him so heavy behind. 



The easiest way to ascertain the amount of weight which 

 it is necessary to carry is by experimenting with stick-fast 

 toe weights ranging in weight from one to four ounces, as it 

 can easily be attached by a small screw ; put on your light 

 weight first and move yc3ur horse a little ways, and if his gait 

 is improved but not quite perfect, remove the light weight and 

 put on one that is heavier and keep trying until his gait is 

 right, and then put the weight in the shoe, which is the cor- 

 rect way, but. if your horse is in the habit of carrying toe- 

 weights you might carry the weight that way, using one 

 heavier on one foot than the other. But I prefer the weight 

 in the shoe, because he is always balanced whether going fast 



