STABLES 261 



posed to disorder. So does the presence of hair, the arrangement 

 of which, about the fetlock, naturally turns the water off the leg 

 instead of running it down into the heel where the skin is most 

 delicate. The most intelligent and experienced managers of 

 city work horse stables, where the clipping of legs in the winter 

 has been tried out, are opposed to it on this basis. Once the skin 

 becomes affected, it may be necessary to remove the hair in order 

 to reach the seat of the trouble. The old country plan of rub- 

 bing out legs with considerable feather is the best means of dry 

 grooming them. Too much rough brushing may be irritating. 



Horses' legs should not be washed unless thoroughly dried. 

 If necessary to put away wet, the legs may be loosely bandaged 

 to prevent chilling, until they have dried out. The fetlocks, 

 pasterns, and heels may be protected against the snow brine 

 common on city streets, and other irritating influences, by smear- 

 ing them thoroughly with a coating of linseed oil before leaving 

 the stable. 



Care of the Feet — The importance of having a horse " good 

 on the ground," as the saying goes, is generally aiDpreciated ; but 

 the structiTre of the foot itself, as a most important feature of 

 conformation, is not always well understood. Furthermore, the 

 necessity for keeping horses shod, which, in itself, is an injuri- 

 ous practice at best, renders consideration of the principles in- 

 volved especially essential. 



Shoeing. — The foot is not an immobile block to ^^-liicli a shoe 

 can be nailed, but is capable of motion, interference with which 

 will defeat the purpose which the foot is most ingeniously de- 

 signed to serve, namely, the relief of concussion. Compare the 

 unshod foot of the ^olt with the foot of the horse that has been 

 shod in the ordinary way, for a number of years, and the detri- 

 mental influence of shoeing will be apparent. Notice the smooth, 

 worn foot surface of the shoe that has been properly applied and 

 the extent to which the foot expands and contracts, laterally, will 

 be indicated. 



Physiological Movements of the Foot. — This is what happens 

 when the foot comes to the ground at the conclusion of the stride : 

 As the weight drops on the foot the fetlock and pastern settle 

 downward and baclcward, the internal structures of the foot are 



