294 MANAGEMENT AND BREEDING OF HOKSES 



grow out full, strong and perfect in form. On sandy soil, 

 the hoofs wear off as fast as necessary, to keep them in 

 fair proportion, but the wearing is not even. The feet 

 should be carefully inspected once each month, and all 

 irregularities corrected. It will often be necessary to 

 shorten the toes. This should be done with a rasp, which 

 is the only instrument that should be used on a colt's 

 foot. The frog needs special attention, for if it gets out 

 of contact with the bearing surface the foot will rapidly 

 lose its shape, the heels will contract and the walls at the 

 quarter become brittle, weak and easily split both from 

 above and below. To avoid such irregularities, keep the 

 walls rounded at the ground surface, the toes short and 

 the frog prominent. 



Age to castrate male colts. — It is customary to castrate 

 the colt when he is between one and two years of age. 

 The work for which the colt is required, as well as the 

 individuality, are factors to be considered in determin- 

 ing the proper age. The longer the colt is left entire, the 

 more muscular in appearance and the more courageous 

 he will be. Thus, if the colt is rather undeveloped, es- 

 pecially about the head and neck, and rather timid in his 

 nature, he may be left entire six months or even a year 

 longer than if he is overdeveloped in these parts and 

 inclined to be lively and vicious. 



