886 VETEEINAEY HYGIENE 



usually occurs in weak, sickle hocks, which should be care- 

 fully avoided in breeding animals. Not only are they a 

 source of weakness and mechanical disadvantage, but are 

 also very unsightly and detract from the horse's value in 

 consequence. 



Before leaving this question of soundness we would 

 emphasize the vital importance of strong, sound feet of the 

 right class to all horses. 



They should be of the correct size for each class of horse — 

 i.e., not too large and not too small. It is almost impossible 

 to lay down any exact guide by which the breeder can be 

 guided in determining when a foot is too big or too small, 

 but he will learn by experience to judge in relation to the 

 other parts of the limb. 



We would rather see the feet a little too small than too 

 big, provided they are of correct shape, have plenty of good 

 tough horn, and that the smallness is not the result of 

 contraction of the heels from old-standing disease of the 

 foot. Such feet are usually associated with quality, and 

 that hardness and toughness of the bones which is so much 

 to be desired in all classes of horses. 



The opposite class of foot — i.e., a very big, flat foot — 

 commonly has a bad class of horn, viz., brittle, and weak, 

 with fleshy heels and sole, which are very liable to bruises 

 and corns. 



Such feet are usually found in coarse, common horses of 

 a very lymphatic temperament, and associated with a bad, 

 soft class of bone. 



We think that the fashion for very big, open feet has often 

 been carried too far among fashionable shire-horse breeders, 

 to the detriment of the breed. It should not be assumed 

 because the heels tend to become high and narrow when 

 the feet are chronically diseased that the exact opposite 

 shape of foot, i.e., a foot with particularly wide and rather 

 low heels, is the ideal one. 



Personally, we have rather a preference than otherwise 

 for 'Donkey feet,' always provided that they are natural, 

 i.e., not the result of disease. Such feet are usually 



Digitized by Microsoft® 



