THE HOOF AND ITS CULTURE. 
355 
Begin early to watch the little hoofs. If they grow irreg¬ 
ularly or become foul, or the joints do not straighten properly, 
remember that the hoof is always reproducing itself, and if 
trimmed properly it can be guided to a renewed and more 
perfect growth, which always influences the limbs favorably, 
just as happens when the gardener prunes and trims and fertil¬ 
izes trees, shrubs and plants. This applies to the cultivation 
and management of the hoof, especially in a state of domesti¬ 
cation, from birth to maturity, and after as well. 
In suitable surroundings an unembarrassed circulation can 
easily be maintained, so that the danger from hoof depravities 
becomes trifling, either from defectively, irregularly or un- 
symmetrically acquired development. When the gait is faulty, 
it is always due to the form and quality of the “ horny box,” 
and can be corrected at once. It is of great importance, too, 
to watch the way his hoofs are placed on the ground ; for 
example, should one foot be placed on the toe and the other 
square on the sole, it is evident that the two limbs will not 
organize alike—walking on the toe indicates that something 
about the heel makes it more comfortable for him to do this. 
But after his heel is all right, it may still remain as a habit and 
cannot be neglected with impunity. One or two hoofs some¬ 
times grow less thrifty than the others, and one or more may 
grow deficient in form and quality. This happens to both 
male and female, but mostly to young animals reserved for 
stallions, being deprived of natural exercise, and their hoofs 
not getting proper tear and wear in suitable pasture—a mat¬ 
ter of great importance—they acquire what are known as pin- 
toes or stallion-toes, and these require much care; yet the 
worst cases can be changed in from eight months to a year, 
into feet and limbs that are perfect. It is of great importance, 
too, that the character of the deformities and blemishes be 
early recognized and corrected, because a part like the limb 
or hoof that suffers from perverted or arrested growth of a 
part, for a year or two before maturity, and during its grow¬ 
ing period, is more liable to leave some trace than are adverse 
changes occurring after maturity. 
As has already been said, the hoof is a part that is always 
