The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1859-09-10
Agricultural.
Handling Horses while being shod.

| most important job, that of shoeins a
horse, is very frequently performed by care
less or ignorant smith, whereby valuable hor-
ses are often amed or injured. DR.. w, Pierce,
V. s., IN note to the Ohio Cuiiirat0r, in al.
| lnding TO this fact, remarks, that horses some
times stand quiet and easy, at other times
| they refuse to stand still, while one foot is u
they struggle until it Is released. and fire.
quently the sheer beats, speaks SHARPLY
swcars, and irlghtens the horse, so that he
must be held by force or abandoned Another
takes the hoofs and sets his shoes without apy
trouble.
The DR.. gives some Of the reasons for this.
lie says: Under certain circumstances the
muscles ciamp, causing severe pain. Almost
at any time horses hind leg may be raised
so high or IN such position, as to cause
severe cramping, not be endured. When
horse has had all the muscles relaxed by eX-
crcisc, and stands and cools quick an unusual
position will most certainly produce cramp-
ing, and at the same time make him irritable
horse that has stood for some time in the
cold, uneasy. and suffering with anxiety to
get home, is in a bad condition to stand the
bangs, and often painful position. of shoepg,
and too often frettod TO that degree that he
never gets over it too often forced to stand
and endure the pain of severe cramping,
pricking, etc, until he will never forget il,
and often refuses to enter the shop again.
Some horse Shoers have habit of raising
the foot and leg so high that no common
horse can stand it, and thus he will shoe hvr-
SEES lialf his life time before he knows that the
fault is in himself The awkwa,dncss and
lll-temper OF some shoeis is sufficient reason
to withdraw your patronage, although they
may do their work well. The damage done
by forcing the horse to stand in pain and the
injury to his disposition, is infinitely more
injury than to 60 ten miles, and spend day
and pay double price to one who has sotne
sympathy and shoes him without pain-one
who exercises some reason and judgment and
patience, and seems to sympathise with the
suffering animal-has little or no trouble and
does no damage
| once knew horse that if he was minus
shoe, would 20 by himself to a particular
smithy, and there stand until the shoe was
set. once owned horse that was shod
three or four years without any troublc-at
last he was sent to shop to be shod, the
sheer being q little intoxicated, frightened
him, beat and abused him in such manner
that he ever after feared to approach black.
'"'''Ii eh"P, hhu u iorceu 10 ehter one, would
lrembe with fear. | think | shall be iusti-
lied in saying that one-half of the horse. sho-
crS are incompetent to the task, saying moth
ing about their workmanship of setting shoes.
have no doubt but some fancy shoers are
the cause Of splnts, boys. and culbs, as well
as kicking, crnging, pulling at the halter,
etc. etc.
Reader, i you are the owner of = good
horse, go yourself and see him shod unless
you are we'll acquainted with the sheer, and
know him to be careful, patient, mild tenn
pcred and humane. Withdraw your patron
age from all reverse characters, before YOU
sustain loss. Never submit to, or employ
sheer, whose character aud intellect is lnfe
nor 10 that of your horse. If you do. YOU
may have him famed, abused, and spoiled.