Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-06-25

One of the most constant sources of
surprise. SAYS the San Francisco Chron-
icle, to those accustomed to use horses in
the city. as well as to newcomers in the
state used to seeing the greatest care be
slowed among eastern farmers in the mat
ter of shooting their horses, is in the al
most universal prevalence in California
of the practice of allowing horses to re-
main barefOOtcd for all ordinary farm
work. 1t Is the exception and not the
rule in the rural districts here to see
farm team kept shod. The absence of
cold weather, with attendant frozen earth
earth and ice. Is, of course, in a large
measure responsible for this practice.
There are many reasons, however. why
the custom is good one and should be
more generally adopted where climate
conditions permit.
The first consideration among settlers
of limited means Is. of course. that
very large item of expense is thereby
saved, and much time otherwise lost Is
gained Nine-tcnthS of the injuries to
which horses are subject are caused by
improper snoeing. 1t Is the exception
and not the rule to find a blacksmith who
thoroughly understands his business, and
who does not burn and pair the hoofs of
horses left to his tender mercies until
they are irreparably injured. Hundreds
of valuable horses are ruined every year
from being shod by some cross-road
blacksmith who barely knows how to drive
Il shoe nail. On this account. them when
ever it Is practicable, the horses may Just
as well be left unshod. Their hoofs will
require Il little trimming or rasping every
month or six weeks, but otherwise they
l. 1.
Where the animals are to be used on
ordinary roads and at ordinary farm work
no shoes are necessary. OF course, if
they are to be ridden or driven over rocky
mountain trails and roads it will be neces-
sary to protect their feet. but oftcntimes
it will be found sufficient simply to shoe
the fore feet. where most of the strain
comes.
Where horses are raised. as they are
largely in this state in hilly or mountain
Gus regions. their hoofs at an early date
become toughened and hard. and can
stand much more without being shOd than
the horses raised on the soft ground of
the valley. A distinction should always
be made then. when the question of shoe
ing arises. between horses raised on soft
ground and those brought up on gravelly
or rocky soil. 4 good example Is afforded
by the Indian horses. They are never
Shod, and yet will travel distances over
the toughest sort of country at high
speed that would completely break down
a civilized" horse. no matter how care
fully shod. Even when the ground freezes
1t may be that for ordinary purposes 1t
will be fonnd that no shooting Is needed.
This, of course, i not susceptible of
demonstration here. What Is claimed in
California Is that for all farm work, ex-
cept for continual travel over rocky roads,
II Is not necessary. but, on the contrary.
Is positive benefit not to shoe the
horses. Many instances might be cited
of horses that have been worked until
they died of old age who had never worn
shoe. and probably would not have done
half well or lived nearly so long If
they had been given them. Another con
Sideration not without some weight is
that when horse kicks. as kick they viii
sometimes. it does not hurt half as badly
to receive blow from an uElshod as from
a shod hoof. Actually experience prompts
the Offering of this suggestion.