AND HIS DISEASES. 189 



giYe a catcli, and the inner heel thickened in the form known 

 as a feather heel. In draught horses they may have toes and 

 calkins, as in the fore feet. 



THE MANAGEMENT OF THE FOOT IN THE STABLE. 



The smith frequently gets blamed for many things which 

 really are chargeable to the owner or the groom, either by 

 neglecting the feet in the stable or allowing the shoes to re- 

 main too long on. The feet should be kept clean ; all sand 

 and dirt should be carefully picked out every night, and the 

 feet kept soft and cool by frequently stuffing with soft clay, 

 wet tow, or cow dung, and by occasional 'dressing with oil 

 or hoof ointment. 



The shoes should never be allowed to remain on longer 

 than three weeks or a month for horses regularly on the road, 

 and farmers often lame their horses by letting them carry 

 their shoes for three or four months. 



However, many injuries occur in the shoeing shop through 

 carelessness or ignorance of the farriers ; hence it would be 

 well if the owners of horses would occasionally accompany 

 them to the forge and see that the principles above enunciated 

 be enforced. Every horse should be carefully examined by 

 the proprietor of the forge before being allowed to leave. By 

 this simple precaution he will save himself considerable an- 

 noyance, and his customers a great deal of disappointment 

 through the carelessness of his men. 



