Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1892-10-14
L ( ( S
H HORSES HOOP.

~"N law" W.
Improve 1t.
The external part of the foot consists
of three parts-the wall, composed of
fbrous material SO closely laid together
that in a healthy foot which has not been
spoiled by foolish ho%rseshoeing or the
application of oil or hoof ointments they
present a smooth and shining and ap-
parently solid appearances: the sole,
which is composed of a scaly or leafy
material, which falls off of it's own ac-
cord when it becomes too thick, and the
frog, composed of a ibrous substance
like India rubber, which, like the scales
of the sole, falls off Of its own accord
when it has attained a certain distance
from the secreting membrane. The wall
OF bears a greater share of the
weight of the horse, especially toward
the toe, where it is the thickest, but the
sole and frog are also designed by ma
ture to bear a portion, and in his wild
state they undoubtedly rest on the
ground. The frog also is Of great serv-
ice, as we have already seen, in dilnin-
ishing conclusion, assisting the power
full f1exor tendon in 1exing the foot and
in preventing slipping.
The wall is firmly attached to the
pedal bone by between 800 and 700
horny leaves on its surface, which in
terlock with a like number of tieshlike
leaves, formed by the membrane cover
ing the bone, being raised in a kind of
plaits. Still further, to strengthen this
attachment and to enable the wall to
bear the great strain that is upon it, it
at its posterior part bends sharply
around under the wings of the pedal
bone, where it is still provided with
laminB or leaves. It is thus that what
are called the bars of the hoof are
formed. A theory is entertained by
some that on account of this interlock-
ing of the bars and the pedal bone,
what is called the expansion of the
heel is impossible: but any one who has
seen q shoe that has been on some time
removed will have noticed that the heel
has considerable lateral elasticity, as the
shoe is glazed at that part, and some
times even wrought into a groove.
In regard to the material of the hoof,
the opinion seems to be generally &C.
cepted that black or blue hoofs are
composed of tougher horn than white
ones, and as the fbers of the wall be-
come softer as they are deeper, it is
supreme folly to allow the farrier to
rasp and polish the outside of the hoof.
All he has to do after the nails are
driven is to turn down the points of the
nails on the face of the walls. Soil and
climate have a good deal to do with the
size of the foot. A dry, sandy soil has
a tendency to grow feet less circular in
form and therefore more concave in
the sole than softer clay land, and it is
of Importance to keep the foot rather
soft and flexible than hard and brittle.
Where there is a tendency to the latter
state it is a good plan to stuff the feet,
and there is nc more effective material
for this purpose than COW dung mixed
with clay.
A foot defective in substance or form
renders the best looking horse of little
value for work in the cities. Therefore
use a stallion that, whatever his other
defects, is right at the ground. If your
mares are defective there, by the use of
such a horse you may escape that defect
in the produce. If you are laying in
new mares, have them right at the
ground, short in the leg, clean and flat
in the bone, sound in joints, deep in rib,
long below and short above, and finally
bred from a kind of which you know
something that is good.
In connection with this it may be
stated that the Farrier's company of
England give diplomas to working
blacksmiths who have attained sufficient
proficiency in their business. But Mr..
Lupton, of Richmond, England, con-
tends for an advance on this plan and
says that every shoeing smith should
learn the anatomy of the horses foot,
and that the knowledge so acquired
would be of great value to the public
and likely to bring a correspondingly
greater return to the smith who owns it.
The Best Sheep to Raise.
If the butchers will pay as much per
pound for Shropshire mutton and lamb
as for Southdown we think Shropshires
will he the mora nrofitahle shaen for a