Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1855-08-30
FARMERS Departmtllt.
From the Ohio CuliEAloE.
Taking care Of Colts HOOfs.

In en- article on the management Of young
horses, in the London Farmers Magazine, by (
Oecil. We End the iollopjng excellent suggest /
iona For nsnv kinds Of farm work il is often
better that horses 90 unshod, and II attention J
was paid 10 forming the hoOfs Of colts, they \
might be 90 grown that no shoeing would be
NECESSARY, except for roadsters.-kDs.
Considering The important functions assigned
to the legs and feet, uPon which great Por-
ton Of the horses value depends, h Il . mat
ter Of some surprise that more attention n not
bestowed on the subject. There are some
breeders who never think Of inspecting them
ill the animal , about 70 be broken, or, II they
observe any imperfsetiOns, they leave the rem
edy to itA fate. The legs Of young hsrses may |
be Justly compared to willow LWigs: you may
train them TO almost what form you please, By
careful and iudicious treatment many defects
may be relieved or corrected, il attacked in
the ear lest stage, before the parts have as
sumed an Vnyielding texture. Many OF the
limperlecLions 10 which the form OF the leg Is
susceptible broken, worn away, or Clipped of.
In the event Of such an sccIdent, the opposite
side Of the hoof grows more luxuriantly, and
the weakest portion, or lower side, having TO
sustain an increased weight, an uneven bear
ing for the foot is established. This will as
suredly cause the leg to grow crooked, and
very probably occasion turning in or out OF
r the toes The irregularity Of shape is often
sean in one leg, while the other is well formed.
The pasteIn FONTS in many cases, eVince dis
position 10 grow too upright, or on the other
, hand TO assume too much Obliquity. The same
principle which accidentally causes o limb TO
l.. eowun ka
dopted to restore it to its proper shape, provi-
A ded it is attended to in time. Thus, If the
near foreioot of colt or young horse be bro
, ken of or worn down, it will cause the animal
TO tread more heavily on the inside than on the
out, and the leg wall become bent in conse.
quence. To correct TINS it is only necessary to
reduce the Supersbundant portion Of the foot
with draWing-knife or carp, so that the limb
may have an even bearing. When the pas
a terms grow too upright, the heels require to be
4 lowered, and the toes Of those which are too
! OBJ Iique must be shortened. The texture Of
: the hoof varies considerably in different ami
mails. In some measure it is constitutional:
and II is likewise affected by the state or con-
ditiOn Of the land upon which the animal is
reared. Before shoes are applied, If the land
be dry, the hoof is very liable 10 be broken off
at the edges and if neglected they will shell of,
and frequently occasion soTeneGs-sometmes
even innamation. To obviate this, the part
should be rounded little with the rasp, and
the foot dressed with ointment composed Of tai
~ low, tat or lard, two parts, tar one part, and
. treacle half an equivalent Of the latter. These
being melted together and applied warm oil
:. the soles and hoois Of horses at any age, viii
~ be found To promote the growth and tougher
the parts effectively. If the land is very dry
:, it il advisable 10 throw water on some par
~ ~ ticular spot, where the animals may be indu
Ced to stand occasionally in order to keep the
le feet in a healthy state.
By adopting regular system, and examin
!. ing the legs and feet Of every horse, young o
l., old, once o month, attention, TO these littl
" matters becomes habltual When the vas
importance of healthy feet is considered, tht
!. trlhlng item Of trouble must necessarily vanish
- Incpent lameness is very ire quenLly estab
y lished at an early period; although it may no
o" " be detected till the animal is shod and put Z
~ work, when the unfortunate blacksmith, shoes,
- and all such devices are summarily condemn
- ed. Thrushes are not unfrequently predis
70 - pOsing cause Of smeness; but they are com
- monty thought lightly OF, unless they give
;. papabe evidence OF Inconvenience. Exposure
= : 10 wet ahd 6Lh will often produce them; and
= " they are in some measure similar to the foot.
F" rot in sheep. AT the same time they are more
controable and subseyvient 10 appropriate
remedies. When the properties Of the frog
. the seat Of this disorder, are considered. n,
surprise can exist that they should be very fre
quently the predispOOing source Of ioOtlame
ness. The thrush may be briefly described O
:. an ichorous, fOelid, and corrosive discharge
81 proceeding from the frogs. When this exist
Tor any length Of time in the foot Of yOun
-, animal, it interrupts the ordinary secretion
"u and development Of the sensible frog; by I
Il. discharge IL promotes absorption, causing th
OA internal part TO assume an unhealtful degree
hardness or consistency, and thereby affects il
elasticity. The frog, It must be observed,
be destined 10 proven, conclusion. which in il
healthy state is admirably adapted for; but
or. it is injured, so that its character and natur
are changed, when the horse is put TO wor
90. soreness of the feet ensues. and often inHamt
IL, tion, which gradually increasing, the animl
become quite lame, and is therefore near
useless. AS attention 10 the feet Of hors,
The involves the necessity Of handling, and sue
u.s. miliarity viii render them docie and tract