The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1882-06-22
THE HORSES FOOT AND IT'S CARE.

1t should be one of the first duties OF
those having the management of horses
to study the nature and structure OF
horses foot and the best manner Of
keeping il shod.
If the following simple suggestions
are followed, the horse viii carry his
rider over rough roads and will not be
in pain while travelling.
Remove the old shoes one at time
withdrawing the clenches), rasp the
edge Of the hoof all around and remove
any stubs that may be left in the crust.
Pare out the foot without cutting the
sides of the bars, shaving the frog or
opening the heels. Neither heel nor
frog should be pared more than is nee
essary TO remove what is ragged, for
no reproduction occurs here as in tho
case of the hoof
If the horse has a low heel, the foot
should be pared nj the toe only. Tn
der no circumstances should the fore
part of the hoof be allowed TO grow
long; ii so, il is sure to throw the horse
very much ON his heels, making them
tender and causing lameness, and also
10 strain the ligaments Of the fetlock
joints.
DO not select shoe that Is too light.
A light shoe is apt TO bend long before il
is worn out, and The consequent pain
is injurious 10 the horse. As n rule,
select the short shoes for the horses
having shor: pasierns.
The nail holes should be stamped so
as TO pass straight through the shoe,
and come out in the fiat of the web.
In this way the nail win come ont
low down in the ihickest part Of the
hoof, and give a strong clencb (made
ont Of the shank OF The nail).
The seundness of the foot is greatly
influenced by The number of nails and
where they are placed. To prevent IN
soundRess the nails should be so placed
as 10 allow the foot 10 expand. The
inner quarter and the heel Of The hoof
expand the most, and should be left
free from nails
Pressure on the heels may be pre-
vented by driving the nails toward the
toe little higher than the heel nails
For fore shoe five nails are sufli-
cieni, three on the outside and two on
the inside. For rough roads four on
the outside might be advisable, but
never more.
A clip" should be turned up at the
toe, but not at The side, 10 keep the
shoe steady and prevent its being forced
back.
a new shoe turned up at the toe
feels TO the horse like an old shoe and
insures better travelling.
BE careful to have the shoe fitted to
the foot, and not the foot 10 The shoe,
as is too often done.
The shoe should not project beyond
the hoof at the sides and in rear
Many shoes are lost through this fault /;
moreover, the projections viii check
the sinking of the pastern bone and
cause the horse TO step short.
After mailing on the shoe, the cienches
should not be trimmed by rasping.
The rasp should never be used above
the clenches. as it tears off the outer
covering Of the hoof-thus leaving the
horn exposed 10 the air, when it soon
becomes dry and brittle and breaks of.
The functions of the hoofs covering
are the same as those Of the finger nail.
On a well formed foot the horny
crust IS about one-half an inch thick at
the edge, and the angle formed by the
front of the foot and horizontal sur
face should be fifty degrees.
In consequence of the weight of a
horse falling differently on the hind
feet, certain strains OF the hock and
back sinews should be guarded against
by raising the heels of the shoe. The
hind foot expands less than the fore
foot, and the inside quarter and heel
should be left free TO expand.
The holes on the inside should be
closer together than those on the out
side, and should be placed forward
toward the toe. Three nails on each
side are suflicient TO firmly hold the
hind shoe. A small hind-foot may be
shod with three nails on the outside
md two on the inside.
The largest foot should never have
more than seven nails.
The shoes should be removed, placed |
u the fire, and reftted or replaced by
new ones once a month.
Tender-fcotcd horses travel better
when the sole has leather, gutta-per-
Ina or waterproof felt covering.
Indian ponies, having very tough and
Elastic hoofs, can make long Journeys
without being shod; but, If this is per-
tho hoof soon wears so smooth
hat il is difficult for them to walk on
grass or rocks.
In case Of lameness, remove the shoe
md carefully examine The foot your
elf IT ayails nothing 10 direct far
Ter to examine a foot that he himself
las shod - FdrrOc's KouatGia Scout