STABLES 



263 



fact, there is some advantage in searing over the ends of the horn 

 tubules. 



Common styles of shoes are the plain open shoe, the bar 

 shoe, designed for the purpose of giving frog pressure or pro- 

 tecting weak heels, tips, and pads. 



Hoof Dressings. — The boot blacking idea applied to the 

 feet of horses is inexcusable. No dressing is so attractive as the 

 natural horn, perfectly clean. If it is desired to prevent the 

 drying out of the horn after the removal of the natural varnish 

 in the operation of shoeing, neatsfoot oil without the customary 

 lampblack does not disguise but rather improves the natural 

 appearance of the foot. 



Fig. 135. — An untrimmed 

 hoof with an excess of horn 

 (a) at the toe which breaks 

 the foot axis backward. 



Fig. 136. — An untrimmed 

 hoof with an excess of horn 

 (b) at the heel, which breaks 

 the foot axis forward. 



Fig. 137.— Hoof dressed 

 and foot axis straightened 

 by removing excess of horn 

 below dotted lines in the 

 two preceding illustrations. 



Clipping. — The removal of the hair consists of trimming and 

 incomplete or complete clipping. 



Trimming is the removal of the hair from certain parts only, 

 as the foretop, fetlocks, or ears. Trimming is largely a matter 

 of fashion. 



Fashion in Horses. — The rule of fashion is not confined to 

 the boxes about the arena of the horse show ; it prevails also in 

 the loose boxes adjoining the paddock. In compliance with the 

 dictates of fashion heavy harness and walk-trot-canter saddle 

 horses are docked, their manes pulled, but foretops left. By the 

 same authority, light harness and gaited saddle horses carry full 

 manes and tails ; as a rule, while the former have foretops re- 

 moved, the latter have their tails artificially set and have been 



known to wear " vsdgs." 



Hunters and polo ponies must submit 



