798 VETEEINAEY HYGIENE 



than any other cause. When shying is persistent from one 

 side and not from the other, vision is probably at fault. 



A horse that shies from nervousness never gets over it ; 

 with kindness and care in handling he improves, sometimes 

 to such an extent that one is conscious he is passing an 

 object he dislikes with an effort not to be alarmed ; but 

 complete recovery appears impossible, while in the majority 

 of cases no improvement whatever occurs owing to the 

 punishment, either actual or anticipated, which the horse 

 associates with his vice. 



No punishment will ever cure this condition, no dread of 

 punishment will cause a horse to pass with an air of 

 indifference any object he dislikes. Kindness, soothing, 

 and encouragement, accompanied by firmness may do some 

 good ; horses are very quick to realize whether a man is on 

 their back they can take advantage of. 



The dangers of shying are often considerable ; many a 

 man has lost his life through a fluttering piece of news- 

 paper being carried along the road, and many a collision or 

 overturned trap has occurred from equally slight causes. 



Though a horse that shies in harness is not under the 

 same control as one under saddle, yet with attention to 

 blinkers shying in harness can be greatly controlled. The 

 blinkers should fit closely behind, and incline towards each 

 other in front, so as to limit the area over which the horse 

 can see. 



HYGIENE OF THE FOOT. 



The horse's foot is particularly liable to disease both from 

 the delicacy of its mechanism, and also the injury to which 

 it is naturally exposed. 



The care of the feet should begin with the foal : in speak- 

 ing of the young animal we dwelt on the importance of 

 early handling as preparing the way to its final subjugation. 

 No part of the handling process should receive more atten- 

 tion than the simple one of teaching the young animal to 

 allow its feet to be picked up and attended to. 



The attention the feet require at this time of life is to 



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