The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1884-09-19
Experience with UnshOd Horses.
DANVHLE, W., Sept. Is.

DANVILLE, VI, Sept. Is, 1854.
Editor Register and JouFRdl In your
issue of the 9Th inst. an article appeared,
taken from the Field and FIreSide, rela-
tive to the question, Can horses travel
unshod?" 1t may be interesting in these
days of practical inquiry to CLEAN few
facts from one who has made this subject
matter of study by two years and a
half of experience. The writer of this
article has travelled throughout various
sections in the West, and noted the result
of driving horses unshod upon the prai-
re soil and likewise has driven upwards
of 1000 miles within the States of New
Hampshire and Vermont. and the horses
driven over this latter distance are owned
by the writer at the present day.
Would you or would you not shoe
your horses, is a question asked by num-
erous observer, and admirers of the
above-named team.
In the first place it would be useless to
compare the Eastern roads with the West
for they would bear no comparison at all.
By which | mean, the soil being so diff
erent the consequence is there are less
distractions or impediments in the way
OF horse travelling in the West than in
the East. Consequently if a horse can
travel with ease and avoid all serious
damage to the feet here in the East, it
may be inferred that in like manner they
are able to do so in the West.
But what does experience prove? First,
Has the horse once been shod, or has
there no nail ever been driven into the
foot. Some men affirm, try it. That is,
pull off the shoes and see for yourselves
whether your horse will do admirably as
well without the shoes as with them.
Herein lies the great mistake. 1t is i'm
possible to try it after this manner. Ma
ture has provided for that animal a shell
or crust so hard and tough that when
once pared down by the butchers it will
never be reproduced with like texture.
The hoof may grow and assume an orig
inal appearance, but it is not as the orig
inal. Consequently if your horse has
once been shod it must be shod again and
again. 1t is like man who wears false
teeth; when once the old ones have been
extracted and the new set readusted ma
ture bids adieu and says If you look be-
yond me for help, look on" The writ
er of this article has driven pair of bay
MorganS over all kinds of road, summer
and winter for upwards of two years.
The one on the "ofl side" never was shod,
the other was shod forward two years
ago. No sounder feet or more beautiful
hoofs can be produced than may be OBJ
served upon these two horses. Some af-
firm that the frog" should not come in
contact with the ground. and you will no.
tice horses with high heel lcorks unable to
rest the frog upon the ground. This
seems to be a mistake. Let the frog
strike the ground every step of the way.
What has kept the above-named horses
from slipping: The frog and the frog
alone. So expansive has that become, so
spongy too, that never have they slipped
in winter, and never has there been
week, no not scarcely day, but they
have one or both been in the harness.
But how is it with the one shod in
front two years ago? 1t is necessary to
keep shoes on the fore feet part of the
time; but never would it have been nee
essary had it not have been for the first
shoeing. These ponies will travel with
ease from 40 to 65 miles in day, as those
who know them will affirm; and no
breaking of the hoof has yet been observ-
ed, 1t may therefore be affirmed that
ordinarily horse not shod need not be
shod. But ii once shOd, it must be kept
shod. REV. L, W. DARLING,