River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1890-08-28
TcoPTRIGHT, 1901

" a characteristic
OF Americans than Of any other
people under the sun. This being
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 indis-
per sible qualities, still the purse has
often been accorded TO the horse whose
feet were in the best conditions 1t is
said. no foot no horse
There are so many differences in the
formation of the equine foot that ii
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 une-
quail strain 10 the horse, the hOOf being
in straight line from the cOronet TO
its base, and the coffin" joint, which
placed that there is no excess Of hOOf on
either side to uhbalance il, or to disturb
the perfect eqHipOise-
Yet aperfect foot is only perfect so long
as the owner of the animal keeps it so.
There is nothing more changeable.
The slightest neglect will permit the
growth Of an excess of hOOf with the
most unwished-fOr results. as far as the
comfort and speed of the horse are con
cerned. With the center of gravity
unsettled by an excess of hoOf behind,
which causes contraction, the forward
portion of the hOOf will curve and as
sumo 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 con
vex curve, the forward portion bullying
outward. Both these abnormal fOrma.
tions strain the ankles and distress the
horse, the first causing conclusion, the
second BY throwing the weight on the
back tendon.
The growth of the hOof is rapid and its
symmetry should be kept intact Wher
reduced to its proper size, its base re
sembles a straight line from toe to heel
the coronary bone. coffin bone and cof
fin Joint, well balanced on perpendic
ular basis of support tsat gives no un
due strain to any ligament 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, a strain comes on the
part affected and the grain of the hOOi
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 &c
natural lines and not to permit il to grow
10 excess either at the toe or the heel
Few reasons exist for lameness when
the foot is so treated. The malfOrma.
tiOn that arises from an excess of hOOi
At the heel, causing an inward or con-
cave curve of the hOOf in front, is fire.
quently found in lOw-bred horses. The
still greater deformity which arises
from an excess of hOof in front, causing
displacement of the centre of gravity
towards the heel sometimes begins soOu
after colt is fOaled. and can be avoid
cd BY ex Expanding the heel. and reducing
the surplus OF hoOf
IL is not to the man who is merely
tond Of good horse that the best re
sui s come. but to him who makes the
horse scientific study. There is the
widest possible difference among owners
in this respect I think the man above
ell others who makes the horse study