The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-08-28


foot Of this most useful animal? His
answer was so reasonable and convincing
that asked him TO put his reasons On
PAPER. which he has done:
Most people advocating reform seem -
deal with the effect and overlook the
cause. Now the cause OF much OF this
cruelty is surely a lack of knowledge. and
Is there not some way 10 impart this
knowledge to those whose duty ii IS 70
handle ard care for horses? No man pre-
fers TO drive a lame horse, vet IL is safe
10 say that half the horses driven on the
streets OF Oakland are crippled in some
way. In some the laTneness is percertible
only to the experienced eye. Others get
along fairly vel at about half their MAJ
ural rate Of speed. Still others in trying
TO save the tender spot from striking the
ground fall on their knees repeatedly I'M
III they are cut to the bone; while some
more afraid Of their feet than the whip,
are being pushed along by continuous
effort Of the driver.
This lameness and suffering Is nearly all
caused by improper care of the feet,
through ignorance on the part of the own
err or sheer or both. Owners as rule ex-
pect the sheer TO look after the needs OF
the feet. But suppose the smith knows
less than the owner who admits that he
knows nothing In that line. then unless
dame nature does all the poor horse is
doomed TO suffer.
II say suffer. Did you ever wear new
pair of shoes that after short time would
press on your joints so severely that you
would prefer to walk home in your stock
ing feet than to endure the pain? Now
think of being compelled to keep those
shoes, that so tortured you. on night and
day until they are worn out. Then you
VIII have some idea OF what many faith
ful horse suffers. An overnight check
rein, an overload. a whipping. travelling
out in the storm, or even being poorly fed
are all temporary suffering compared 10
this constant agony in the feet which
ruins many a horse before he reaches his
prime. In many cases the iameness comes
on so gradually In both front feet that the
driver fails 10 notice Il.
81 have asked men IL they knew what
famed their horses, and with none-of-
your-business look they would reply that
he was not lame; that he would travel
twenty miles a day and not limp. Bur
when ! would show them the unnatural
shape of the feet, that the horse did not
step mere than one-haf his natural length
and did not stand square on both front
feet twenty seconds at time, the driver
would admit there was something wrong,
but the sheer said the fest were all right.
| have prevailed upon some of these men
to find a blacksmith who knew the remedy
and they are always glad TO testify to the
benefits derived.
AT the free market you can see horses
with two or three inches of dead surplus
hoof, shod with heavy shoe. upon which
are corks and toe which sets the horse
on stills. Suppose a man should strap a
three-inch block of wood 10 the bottom of
his shoe, then lace Il tightly to the foot
what splendid action he would have in
getting over a rough road. especially IL
an impatient driver Is applying the lash
and Jerking oft in his mouth every time
e - l..
are fourteen hours in the harness; II takes
them four or five hours more to eat. If
they get II, which leaves them five or six
hours for rest.
zone of the causes OF all this lameness
is due to lack of rest. Most Of the horses
are In the harness early and late. six
days in the week, and some OF them seven.
ffty-two weeks In the year. and for four
or five years, IL they do not break down
before. All some Will say but my horse
doesn't do much. ne stands most OF the
time. Try how much you could rest 70
stand Ave or six hours on a pavement
without leaning against anything. Few
OF those horses have proper place to rest
while out OF the harness. Horses in a
pasture will naturally find a level place 10
stand. II forced on siding ground they
win stand with front feat the lowest.
Stalls are invariably made 70 slant back
with a drop OF from two TO four inches
fust back Of the horses hind feet so that
he never stands level, and when lying
down part OF the body projects over this
3oE in the hoor. All this keeps certain
cords and muscles of the limbs in an un-
natural position; they never relax, and
must soon give way Again, many stalls
are so narrow that horse cannot stretch
out 10 rest.
"A night man IN large stable Will ten
you that 1t ts a common thing 70 find
horses lying on their backs with feet high
Up on the side Of the stall. 4 horse should
be able TO lie fat on one side. with his
limbs stretched cut fun length. and TO tie
hign In a narrow stall has the same effect
upon his muscles that a too-short bed.
which cOnpels you 20 keep your feet
drawn up In q eramped position, does
upon YOU"
Van Camps Nsesront and Cheese.
A M Eeff-@rxr A