The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-08-21
HORSE QUESTIONS Aso ANSWERS.
Information For Trainers-Io oorrect
Faults In a Horses Gait.

Information For TRAINER
Faults In a Horses Gait.
81 have a horse which has 50 much
knee action that he hits his elbows. l
ase boots to stop bruising, out what
shall do to drive away the lost motion!
He has plenty of speed, but tlresome
action"
Try ID ounce toe weight shoe. Setit
out full and let him have all the toe he
will bear. Bevel the shoe silghtly IN
front, little on the roller motlon order,
and draw it out thin at the heels, round
ing off the ends. If this does not suit
his case exactly, then attach sour ounce
toe weight, Use an easy check and light
hand driving.
"My horse when going fast will put
his hind feet down and slide them from
three to four inches on the ground be-
fore he can Eft them. State cause and
how to remedy it. Have about . ounce
shoes on him behind and II In front.
Sometimes he will knuckle forward
little OH his pasterns behind. Pasterns
seem all right and sound when standing;
not enlarged any"
He is deficient in hook action. Shorten
his hind toes and use a II ounce shoe,
with half inch heel calks. Apply an .
ounce shoe forward and try this plan
for two or three weeks. Ii it does not
bring improvement, add four ounce
weight.
ssCan you tell me what effect toe
weights have on horses strlde9 l
know they give him higher action, but
do they shorten or lengthen his stride!
If they shorten the stride, how is it they
increase speed in great many cases?'
As rule, toe weights tend to lengthen
a horses stride and improve waste &C
ton. They keep horses gait balanced
and bring regularity of motion, but as a
general thing do not heighten the action.
In most cases an increase Of stride means
additional speed.
envy colt is inclined to hop behind in
speeding and in doing SO makes the long
est step with the right leg. How shall
shoe him to correct this? At a slower
gait he is square all around, touches no.
where, trots wide behind, but steps short
How can l make him extend his stride?
Does weight extend or shorten the stride,
or are toe weights intended only to bal
ance and give more knee action?"
Use hook strap or elastic band on the
right leg above the gambrel. Keep his
forward toes moderately long and put
on four ounce weight. See answer to
the third question. Do not press him for
speed before he is used to the changes
advised.
81 have difficult trotting case. He
bitches when asked for his speed. I've
tried all sorts of shoes and weights with
out benefit. / also have 3-year-old
PAGER which carries 10 ounces in front
and 7 behind. She changes feet and
shuffles now and then. What shall do"
The trotter has been driven over his
gait. He is perhaps checked too high
and pulls more or less. Lower his check.
Give him free rein. Try shoeing five
ounces behind and 10 ounces in front,
with from four to six ounce toe weights.
Finally use hopples few times and keep
him back to square gait. Your pacing
FLY cannot find her gait as shod. Re-
verse the shoes for time, and if she does
not settle into smooth, even stride put
on three ounce weights forward and try
pacing hopples.
''My horse strikes his quarter with
right hind foot. How can preventit?"
Try hind shoes of say 10 ounces, with
most of the weight in the outside web.
Wear quarter boots until the horse gains
confidence to reach and pass outside
Horseman.