Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1889-06-20
HORSES IN SUMMER.

HORSES ~ SUMMER.
1lDsay ssggestssas Csaesrnine sAeslne.
Feeding an Harnesslng.
HE weakest part Of q horse is the
loot. and this Is the most important
part OF the animal. for mo foot no
horse" Is as true q 1t is q trite and
common adage. and no other part Of
the anatomy OF this indispensable an.
imal Is 90 much mismanaged ~ the
foot The foot is perhaps most neg.
lected during the summer. . season
when 1udicious treatment is required
to repair the damage inflicted during
the hardships Of the winter, and when
the feet may be brought under repara-
tive treatment most easily and effect
lively.
Shoes are used for the preservation
OF the feet. and justly so during the
winter season. when the frozen ground
wears down the horn with great rapid
tty, and by its uneaven surface would
bruise and wound the worn and tender
sole, unable to repair by new growth
the excessive wear and tear of the
roads. But when this need has passed
and the earth is soft and yielding
and the work of the fields
favor the new growth and expan-
sion of the hoof the shoes are no
longer required, but are an injury
rather than help. Under such cir
cumstances they are not only useless.
but, being retained. they cramp and
bind the hoofs and exert an injurious
pressure upon the horn and the exceed
ingly sensitive membranes which con-
meet this outer casing of the foot with
the vascular tissue and tendons in
closed within it The horn of the foot
may be we'll compared with the bones
of the head; the hoof. in fact, in some
respects, serves a similar purpose to
that of the skull. which protects the
brain from injury. and when the hoof
is struck with hammer and the horse
finches. quite as much pain is inflicted
as when a man might be struck on the
head in a similar manner. And when.
by congestion Of. the brain bv infam-
nation and excess of blood in it, the
head suffers so severely, in much the
same manner the foot suffers ex-
circulating pains. and the whole system
is disturbed alphabetically, when the
extremely sensitive organs bound up
in the hOof are inflamed and distended
by the pressure of excess of blood.
Thus it becomes matter for serious
care how the feet of horse should be
at this season.
There is certainly no need for shoes
on the feet now, and more especially
none for the retention of the old shoes
which have done service up to this
time. These should be removed and
care taken to draw out all the broken
nails. The foot will then expand on
every pressure of the sole on the soil,
and this healthful action will rapidly
encourage new growth of tissue, the
increase of new horn, and a stronger
and more elastic foot and movement
is more useful for hoof that
has been contracted by bad manage
ment or by disease brought on by bad
feeding or injury than to remove the
hoes and provide work on plowed
ground or afford a run on q smooth
pasture. There is no necessity for
shoeing farm-horses in tho summer;
they will be far better without shoes.
but to permit the old shoes to remain
TO be gradually worn of is q very great |
Next to the foot the stomach OF .
horse is the most ill-used part of the
beast. Feeding is usually done with
put any care. The rack is filed with
hay and the feed-box with grain, and
water is given as soon as the animal is
brought out of the stable to 60 to
work with the stomach filed with
Try food. This courts trouble. It
makes a waste of food. 1t frequently
causes a fit of collie. and it washes the
God out of the stomach into the in
through which it passes UNI
ligested and uselessly. often injurious
y, and escapes with the excrement-
Ample time should be given for the
.nimal to eat its food. and water
hould be given in small quantity only
.fter the morning feeding. and always
,efOre the noon and afternoon meals.
Tut feed is always better than dry hay
md whole grain in the summer. 1t is
aten more slowly; the coarse and fine
thoroughly masticated together. and
he digestion of it is better. 1t is
more laxative than dry food, and bran
nay be fed in this way better than in
ny other. and bran is an excellent
ummer food for horses. The hay,
90, tends to neutralize the effect of
be green food used, by which the ac-
ION of the skin Is increased. and soft
ess" or excessive Precipitation Is in
uced.
The ease and comfort of horse and