Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-01-05

tsay every six or eight Weekst. 10 de-
tect any defects of shape that might
be taking place. II the feet are not
growing level ana symmetrical, they
should be rendered SO by rasping away
the horn which Is not naturally worn
down. If that is neglected, the animal
will soon have the fetlock joint bend
ing over towards the outside. on no
pretencc whatever should the front of
the wall he interfered with, for tie
glazed coating of its surface protects
the horn beneath; it should therefore
he left untouched. 1t would be as well
to disa buse peoples minds of "a very
popular fallacy-viZ., that wet, soft
ground. and even manure yards, are
the best places to keep young fCrses-
and some would even have the frogs
and soles pared thin to allow the
moisture to penetrate more easily. No
greater mistake is made than that. for
the preservation of the hoof depends
TO great extent upon the soil the
animal was reared on. The best
footed horses are bred on dry soils.
and that is undoubtedly the kind of
ground best adapted to the healthy
growth of horn. Young horses require
plthNy vi tACiNist. anu tiltS tiiN
allowed it. the growth of the horn, etc.
is sure To he defective. Then the ques-
ton rises, When ought a horse to be
first shod? The answer is when the
work required of the animal wears the
horn away faster than it is formed or
grown. or. in other words, so long as
the horn of the foot can stand the
wear required it will not need protect
ing (shoeing). Moreover, if the young
horses are not shod so early, they will
not he worked so hard, and fewer
would be ruined in their youth, as is
too often the case at the present time.
In the Christmas Horseman Mr..
Henry S. Reed has a valuable article
on ''Shoeing and eating the Colt"
Among other things he says: Now
that we have produced a foal with
sound feet from sire and dam. possess
intelligence, try and maintain these
healthful properties, keeping the feet in
a sound and healthful condition. The
feet of the foal will require attention
first when about four months old. Have
the little fellow halter broken, and for
a month or SO before putting the rasp
to his feet, handle his legs OCCASION
ally, so that when raspng day arrives
he will not struggle. Use fine rasp
and use it gently, smoothing the walls
and rounding the edge of the toe. Keep
this up regularly every month and
you will grow perfect foot keep the colt
standing on his legs squarely, which will
bring the strain produced by motion
on the entire limb; hence puffs. en-
largements and crooked legs will be
avoided. Should the foal have ten
dency to bow out or bow in at the ell
bows, thus throwing his toes out, or in,
as the case may be, the careful level
ling of his feet, forcing him to break
over the center of his toes, will bring
the distorted members into normal po-
stion. This is of the greatest impor-
lance, as it renders knee hitting among
the Representatives,, generally speaking.
A horse that breaks over the center of
the toes does not paddle nor wing
and usually stated it is the 'paddler or
'Winger' that hits. 1t is true that an
ordinarily archaeological colt can be
reared to maturity with all legs stand
ing independently. approximately per-
feet in locomotion, by the careful train
ing and levelling of his feet once a
month. beginning when he is four to
six months old. 1t is also true that the
foal born practically perfect in leg
structure. can be made to point out or
in at the elbows, toe in or out with
any or all feet, and became candidate
for every kind of a boot ever invented
for protection by doing the wrong
thing with the rasp. and if such results
can be produced studiously why may
they not occur naturally by the break
ing of the hoof. by reason of the heel
becoming too deeper the toe growing
too long or breaking off too short. Too
little care and attention have been given
to the colts feet. AS / have indicated,
the ills have been touched lightly, and
the benefit derived from proper treat
ment spoken of modestly. 1t may seem
a radical statement when l say that
the foot will never need doctoring if
proper care is taken of it. no more than
will horse become a chronic candidate