Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-07-26
THE FOOT FOR SPEED.
How Mr.. Bonner Made His Horses
World Beaters.
SUNOL A PERFECT HORSE.
a Practical study OF the Equine HoOG-
RecoIiections OF Great Horsemen-
Gen. Grant and senator Stanford
Practical Hints 90 Horse Owners.

Written for The EVENING STAR. copyrighted
a HILE the love of the horse is universal,
fne,A the trotting horse is probably more q
a. sIcharacteristic of Americans than of any
Ekk kother people under the sun. This be-
~ ing the case, it is remarkable how few
there are who make the horse a scientific
study. One result Of this partial knowledge
is the popular idea that illustrious pedigree
exclusively confers speed. While it brings in
dispensable qualities, still the purse has often
been accorded to the horse whose feet we're in
the best cOndition-as it ia said, mo foot no
horse" There are so many differences in the
formation of the equine foot that it would be
impossible in a single article even to enumerate
them. The perfect foot is symmetrical and
well balanced in all its parts. so that it gives
no unequal strain to the horse, the hoOf being
in a straight line from the coronet to its base,
and the coffin joint, which forms the center
Of the foot, lsslg so placed that there is no ex-
cess Of hoof on either side TO unbalance it or to
disturb the perfect equipoise.
CHANGES IN THE HOOP.
Yet perfect foot is only perfect so long as
the owner OF the animal keeps it so. There is
nothing more changeable. The slightest neg
lect will permit the growth of an excess OF
hoOf, with the most unwished- for results as far
cerned. With the center of gravity unsettled
by al excess of hoof behind, which causes con-
traction, the forward portion of the hoof will
curve and assume a concave shape that weakens
the whole foot and dIstresses the animal
Again, with an excess of hoof in front, the wall
of the hoof will assume a convex curve, the
forward portion bullying outward Both these
abnormal formations strain the ankles and dis
tress the horse, the first causing conclusion,
the second by throwing the weight on the back
tendon.
THE GROWTH OF THE HOOP
Is rapid and its symmetry should be kept in
tact When reduced to its proper size its
base resembles straight line from toe to heel
the coronary bone, coffin bone and coffin joint
well balanced on a perpendicular basis of sup
port that gives no undue strain to any lgament
or muscle, and this is the true position of the
hoof. When an excess of hoof accumulates on
either side Of the foot the balance is unsettled.
strain comes on the part affected and the
grain of the hoof is subjected to such pressure
at certain points that split-hoof frequently Is
the result. If the neglect be persisted in. The
remedy is to trim the hoof closely to natural
lines and not to permit it 10 grow to excess
either at the toe or the heel Few reasons ex-
list for lsmeness when the foot is so treated
The malformation that arises from an excess
OF hoof at the heel. causing an inward or con-
cave curve of the hOof in front, is frequently
found IN low-bred horses. The still greater
defOrmity which arises from an excess Of hoof
In front. causing displacement of the center
OF gravity toward the heel. sometimes begins
soon after colt is foaled and can be avoided
by expanding the heel and reducing the sur
plus of hoof.
Mr.. BoyNER's KNOWLEDGE.
II is not to the man who is merely fond OF
good horse that the best results come, but
to him who makes the horse a scientific study.
There is the widest possible difference among
owners in this respect / think the man above
all Others who makes the horse a study is Rob-
ert Bonner. 1t has been a valuable lesson to
me to be presen. when Mr. Bonner's horses
were shod and am familiar with many of their