The Forrest City times., 1891-01-30
The Colt. Feet.


 An experienced shoer claims that most iil-shaped feet were so tho first time the horse was taken 10 the shop. Several in his town have tho feet of their colts trimmed every few months until they are shod and he never saw an imperfect foot on one Of them. Colts are born with perfect feet Ma ture intended them to run on the ground constantly. and If they did. their hoofs would wear away evenly. but instead. they are kept indoors about five months oi the year. the hoofs become long and break oil in pieces from time 10 time. If considerable piece breaks of the side of the foot runs over, like sn old boot. and the colt acquires the habit Of walking partially on the side of the foot. which is very difficult to remedy. Sometimes both sides break otf. leaving the toe unnaturally long, thus throwing more |. weight on the heels causing them 10 wear away faster than they should. This produces Hat feet The uneven breaking of of the hoofs before the animal natures causes most of the imperfections in the feet of the horse. "ith iSSNitNht tAbe PohcSs SisdNtUs. curbs and other ailments. When a horse with hni foot comes to be ehod. if it runs over Ut the side. 1t should bs levelcd up gradually Ut sev- eral succeeding shoeings by making the shoe thicker at one side aud pairing down the hoof a little more on the opposite side.
 IL the feet are flat says writer In the N. |. Tribune. the heels should he let alone and the toes cut down us | far back as will answer Ut every shoe- | ing. The shoe should never bear on | the sole of the foot but on the wall alone If the sole is low down and l presents n convex surface. as is often | the case. the shoes will either be made concave, to match, or very narrow to fit only on the horny shell. II the animal has contracted feet tho heels should he cut away all 1t will do. us | wol as the horn on tho bottom q! the | foot and tho shoes should be heveled out from tho quarters back. that the feet may have tendency to spread. If the animal h ringbone or any stiffness in the joints the toes should be cut back. This rule applies also to cases of spavin thorough-pin curbs. etc. Bad feet in horses are generally traccable to inattentioa of man Tue feet of colts should he attended to once in three mouths from the time they arc first stabled in the f,ll until they reach maturity. aud then permanent good feet will be nssured. If agricni- tural societies would employ n skill | ful man to shoe horses at their fairs | and give Illustrative lectures they would accomplish more good than they do now by some of their transactions Don't
 Don, think because you happen to be farmer that you or your children do not need an education. says a corrc- | spondent of the Rural Home. This k il mistake, Reading is the farmer $ recreation and there is no class of labor that requires more study, more | braiu work. or more thorough applica- ton than farmers. Don't fail to take at least ono or two agricultural papers read them carefully and when you iiud out some better way than the ono you are pursuing, don't fail to get ou, of the old ruts, aud b try the new path pointed out
 And to those who write for ayricult- urai papers let mo say. don't go too much on theory. dou't set a thing down for asact until by actual experience you have found it to be 50; theu. when you have found really good thing. or have sought out real improvement or useful invention. don't fail to let the public know It If you have any love for home. don't fail to make it's sur roundiugs as ? easant as possible, II