True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1855-09-05
From the Ohio oullivator.
Taking care Of Colts Hoofs.
Bloomfield, Chic.

IaK1ng care Oh ColCS noolS'
In an article on the management ofyoung
horses, in the London Farmers Magazine,
by Cencil, we find the following excellent
suggestions, For many kinds of farm work,
it Is often better that horses go unshOd. 4
if attention was paid to forming the hoofs
of colts, they might be so grown that no
shOeing would be necessary, except for
roadsters.
Considering the important functions as-
signed to the legs and feet, upon which a
great portion of the horses value depends,
it is a matter of some surprise that more
attention is not bestowed on the subject
There are some breeders who never think
Of inspecting them till the animal is about
to be broken, Or, if they observe any i'm
pcrfeetions, they leave the remedy to its
fate. The legs of young horses may be
justly compared to willow twigs: you may
train them to almost what form you please.
BY caeful and judicious treatment, many
defects may be relieved or corrected, if at
tackled iu the earliest stage, before the
parts have assumed an unyielding texture.
Many of the imperfections to which the
form Of the leg is susceptible, broken, worn
away, or Clipped off. lu the event of such
an accident, the opposite side of the hoof
grows more luxuriantly, and the weakest
portion, or lower side, having to sustain an
increased weight. an uneven bearing for
the foot is established, This will assured
ly cause the leg to grow crooked, and very
probably occasion turning in or out of
the toes. The irregularity Of shape is Of
ten seen in one leg, while the other is well
formed. The pastern joints in many ca
ses, cvince disposition to grow too up
right, or OH the other hand to assume too
much obliquity. The same principle which
accidentally causes limb to take an unfa-
vorable growth or form may be adopted to
restore it to its proper shape, provided it
is attended to in time, Thus, if the near
forefoot of a colt Or young horse be bro
ken of OF worn down, it will cause the an
imal to tread more heavily on the inside
than on the out, and the leg will become
bent in consequence. To correct this, it
is only necessary to reduce the snperabun-
dant portion Of the foot with drawing.
knife or carp, SO that the limb may have
an even bearing. When the pasterns grow
too upright, che heels require to be lower
cd, and the toes of those which arc to OBJ
hque must be shortened The texture of
the hoof varies considerably in different an
imals. In some measure it is constitution.
al; and it is likewise affected by the state
or condition Of the land upon which the
animal is reared. Before shoes are appli.
cd, if the land is dry, the hoof is very liza
BILE to be broken off at the edges; and il
neglected they will shell off, and frequent
~ occasion sOreness--somctime even in.
1amatiOa. Toobviate this, the part should
be rounded little with the rasp, and the
foot dressed with ointment composed O
tallow, fat Or lard, two parts, tar one part
and treaclc half an equivalent of the latter
These being melted together and applied
warm OH the soles aud hoofs of horses a
any age, will be found to promote til
growth and tougher the parts effectively.
If the land is very dry, it is advisable t
throw water oa some particular spot, wher
the animals may be induced to stand occu
sionally, in order to keep their feet in
healthy state.
By adopting a regular. system, and c,
amining the legs and feet of every hors,
young or old, once month, attention
these little matters becomes habitual.- =
When the vast Importance of healthy fc,
is considered, the triaing item of troubl
must necessarily vanquisb. Incipi CT
lamencss is very frequently established o
an early period; although it may not
detected till the animal is shOd and put
work, when the unfortunate blacksmith
shoes, and all such devices are summaril
condemned. Thrushes are not unfrequen
ly predisposing cause of ameness; b.
they are commonly thought lightly Of, III
less they give pOlpable evidence of inOonv