Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1890-05-23
AGRICULTURAL NOTES.
SUBJECTS OF INTEREST TO PRO-
GRESSlVE CULTlVATORS.
Should Our Horses Re Shod ?-Ideas Ad-
vanced by English Authorities on the
Subject which DO Not Agree with
Those Commonly Entertained.

Usc and wont have so accustomed us
to shod horses that it will appear to
many to be absurd to discuss the prac-
tice. But it is not by any means the
first time that the wisdom of mailing an
iron shoe On the hoof of a horse has been
called in question. Some years ago the
matter was hotly debated, when the adj
vocates of tho shoeless system came in
for the abuse usually awarded to the
pioneers in any reform. The Royal So
ciety for the Prevention of Cruelty TO
Animals also gave it out that they would
prosecute any one who rode or drove q
horse without shoes, being convinced
that it would be piece of cruelty to do
so. There are, however, it would APP
pear from the Pail Mall Budget, not
few English owners of horses who have
converted the theory into practice. Fol
lowing are some instances cited:
A doctor in considerable practice in
the north of London has been driving
one of his horses for nearly year past
without Shoes and his experience con-
firms in the fullest degree the views of
the Rev. j. G. Wood. as set out in his
book on "Horse and Man." perusal of
which induced him to make the eXperi-
ment. When the shoes were first re-
moved the hoofs were soft, and in order
that they might harden and SO return TO
their natural condition, the horse was
kept on a hard floor in the stable for
three months. That is a costly but nee
essarv preparation where shoes have
been used. but later economics will more
than balance the account AT the close of
the period named he was put to work,
and Notwithstanding the tear and wear
In all weathers and on hard and soft
roads Unfortunately, the boots are to-
day perfectly sound.
Frost makes no difference to the sure
footedness of the unshod animal, and
while the horses of brother practitioners
were confined to the stable owing to the
slippery condition of the roads, he went
his rounds with absolute safety, This is
a clear demonstration that a horse can
dc traction work without shoes with dis
tinct advantage both to the animal and
the owner, and the Rev. j. G. Wood
contends that it can do saddle work also
better than when shod on any description
of road. Veterinary surgeons, farriers
and grooms may be skeptical, but prac-
tce is better than theory. The follow
ing are the advantages which one of the
authors correspondents sets out as the
result of his personal experiences:
/. Five OF six pounds per annum are
saved by non-shoeing, including the
frost nails in winter.
2. Can gallop on a road covered with
ice. when other horses are not safe, even
with the use of frost nails.
8. The weight of the shoes is taken of
the feet, which is a considerable help to
the horse.
4, The foot, being fiat from the frog
and down to the ground, leaves no re-
Ceptacle for stones.
3. There is none OF the unnecessary
Jar caused by the shoes, so that the horse
travels freer and lighter.
The doctors groom, who is an enthusi
estic convert to the new system, not only
confirms these advantages, but claim:
that the animal is saved from vari
Gus diseases of the foot caused by shoe
ing, while its surefootcdness is most re
markable. 1t steps high and goes well
and at the end of a days work its fee
are perfectlV cool,