Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1892-08-18
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BOOTlNG A HORSE.
Are the Boots of To-day Used on Trotters
Practical?

Are the Boots of To-day Used on Trotters
Practical?
TFrom American Horse Monthly.l
There is no question but that the booting
of horse enters largely into his success
as trotter, for if he strikes himself
badly even once, he is not only laid up
for many valuable days but perhaps for
the season. At any rate, he loses conf
dence in himself, for an animal of ordi-
nary instinct can easily remember under
what circumstances and how he became
Injured. All horsemen ought to be in
terested in and appreciate the Importance
of proper boots. Proper fitting boots
are those only which will not chafe or in
lure in any respect. This is the first neces-
sary qualification. But there are others.
It seems to me that if horsemen could
have boot that is light and strong and
the zenith Of horse-bOot making will have
been reached. It is possible to make
such boot and it would be like boxing |!
gloves on the hands Of fighter.
The wrapper of all shin boots would
be of calf-skin of peculiar tannage, so
that it would absorb little moisture, be
always pliable and as soft as glove.
The body Of the boot proper, which has
always heretofore been made of leather,
would be made of buckskin and properly
padded with padding that could not
change its position. The buckskin would
stand more hard usage than any leather
and the boot would wear for long time.
Y The hind shin boots would all be made
with front cord protection, the padding
receding gradually SO as not to make the
boot bulky and clumsy looking.
With such boot horse could brush
right along and never feel any effects
from it, which cannot be the case with
boot having hard leather body and
calf-skin lining fastened close and tight
to it. This will be evident to any horse
man and any one will see the truth of
my statement by placing a piece OF
leather, wood or other hard matter on the
hand and on striking it a sharp blow, the
pain caused will be almost as great as if
the blow were struck on the bare hand.
With the present style of boots the horse,
when striking, will not, of course, cut
himself, but he will jar his limbs just the
same. A boot properly made as above
described will be lighter than the ordi-
nary style and no horse can injure HIM
self with it under ordinary circum-
stances.
Another advantage it would have over
anything made would be that it would
be flexible, expand and contract and give
with the motion of the limb.
1t would fit close to the limb at every
point and not stand out as the present
style does.
Speedy cut attachments could be made
to fit tight or nearly so and not, as now.
loose and moving with every motion of
the limb.
Quarter-boots could be made in the
Same manner in all styles, bell, close-ft-
ting and hinged, and might, | think, be
termed jerseyfitting anti-chafing, bullet
proof, feather-weight boots.
The weight of quarter-boot has very
much to do with horses speed and if
toe-weights are used the quarter-boot
will to a Gel tain extent counterfeit the
effect of the leverage of the weight. The
weight must be applied as near as posi-
BILE to the lower edge of the toe and the
higher up the hoof you put it, the less
effect you get. 1t would be possible and
with no extra heavy quarter-boot either
to overbalance entirely the effect Of two,
three or four ounce weight.
Quarter boots of above description
could be made so light that two ounce
weight could not be effected by them.
The finest scalper ever produced could
be made this way. Some may question
this and say they would like to see it
first. 1t would be hard for me here to
describe intelligently the process of max
ing them but they can be made at an
ordinary cost and counteract every Jal
the hoof receives.
hay 70 ct
that they have to get the lightest sulkies
the lightest harness and the lightesl
boots possible.
1t is not as necessary to have llgh,
harness as light sulky, because the har
ness is distributed all over the horse. L
is not as necessary to have light sulkJ
as light non chatting easy-fitting boots
as the sulky is drawn by the muscles o.
the mouth. neck and breast, while these
in turn, have to depend entirely on thu
strength of the limbs, which are thu
motors for the whole machine. Thes'
limbs must be properly balanced will
toe or side weights in order to maxi
them act to their fullest capacity and il
unison, but every effort must be made tt
make the action of the limb free and un
trammeled. 1t would be most prefer
able if the animal did not have to US
boots at all, but since this is impossibl
let us devise some means of equippin,
him with the greatest comfort and cas-
possible, with the least weight and tn
most absolute protection.
have studied these matters from ever
point, and must say that boots made a
above, by experienced mechanics, VIII
have thoroughly mastered the action G
the trotter, would aid the trainer yer
much, and in many cases might win
race which he otherwise would no
Horsemen are the judges in all such ma
tiers, and it is important to hear frol
those who make the speed of the ha
ness racing study.