Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-08-11
THE .araovEnKar or THE HORSE.

In the use of that most useful OF all do.
fhestic animals, the horse, it has become
apparent that man has not developed the
highest possibilities of the beast, but
still letters his progress. The advances
in scientific research, the more general diff.
fusion of knowledge regarding the anat-
omy and physical demands of the horse,
and the enlarged view taken in this age of
the claims of domestic animals upon our
sympathies, aud fos humane treatment.
have all tended to better the condition of
this animal in servitude, and TO render him
still more useful to his master. Our atten-
ton has for some time been directed to the
current of debate in the press Of the coun.
try upon the question OF bearing
reins, checks, collars, and especi.
ally horseshoeipg. As to bearing
reins and over.checks, those advocating
their total abolition are steadily gaining
ground, and they are SO obviously correct
In their views, that it is fair to assume
these torturing devices will in time give
way before the humane protests now being
made against them. There is reason to be-
lieve, also, that the century will witness,
before its close, great improvement in the
adjustment OF harness, and that presently
our horses will be driven with still less of
harness encumbrance, the animal by i'm.
proved tanning systems being brought to
such tractable state, that the minimum
OF harness.restraint may be adopted. A
Few days ago we published from a reputa-
Bile and scientific journal strong argu.
ment against the shoeing of horses, where
in it was held that "the state of ma
ture is sufficient for all demands
that should be made upon the
strength and endurance of the horse. But
it is not clear that the foot of the beast in
the state of nature would be equal to even
ordinary demands, in his use upon the arti
fetal pavements oil our streets and road.
ways; in fact, it may be taken as settled,
that horses will continue to be shod, But
we are not indulging in vain speculations
IN expressing the belief that the
time may come when a perfect substitute
for the present shoe will be found. It is
now hardly to be questioned that the iron
shoe lessons the capability of the horse,
retards the growth Of the hoof, and by its
unyielding nature seriously incommodes
and injuries the animal. 1t may take
many years to overcome the bias now ex.
listing in favor of the iron shoe, but that
it will find its place among the discarded
things, in due time, is no idle proph.
ecy. In the meantime much attention
is being given to the subject of horseshoe.
ing, and this lin itself is Indicative of the
evolution of the true method of protecting
the hoof which we have predicted. A
recent article in this paper on this
subject, brings ont communication
from practical horseshoer, and
which is presented in another column.
This man, who served under the direction
OF the skilled veterinary surgeons of the
English army, frankly admits by the
whole tenor OF his letter that the iron
shoe is an infection, and the very fact that
he points out errors in the present system
of applying the shoe, and suggests RENE.
dies, is evidence of the possibility of
time when the iron shoe will be abolished.
The subject is not trite one; it may
worshily engage continued thoughtful at
tention. The men of the age are too wise
to follow in the conventional groove in the
treatment of the horse, when other and
better paths may be opened. The time
must come when the merciless bit, the
overcheck, the contracted and nonexpand.
ing shoe, the trimming away aud the
burning of the hoof, and like evils shall
pass away, and as result give us horses
fieeter, more enduring, more gentle, surer
of foot. stronger of joint and mucle,
longer lived, and in every way more useful
to man,