Newark post., 1913-01-08
Care of the
Feet of Colts


.nstftntr OF Kent county, by G. w. Brod-
,,.,J a tytrruarian, we take the follow
.,,... to the feet of colts, much of which
In rot remember Of finding in print
bsforr. lie said:
.Ir the long period of evolution of
~, bu,,r he has lost his original toes
ro,y has but one, the rudiments of
a., othrr showing in the splint bones.
6, tbo horse is now a solipede, or single
hoof animal. and with this single hoof
,,oJo roor and mishapen sometimes by
.oroIr.> a~ccding and hadling. Like be-
,ots Hh, applies with peculiar force to
.bo frrt of the horse, but careless hand
limo after birth is the cause of much trou-
~, nng ago | discovered that about
an ,,r cent Of the colts born into the
,,rIt have, straight feet, but at three or
.,,,r wears Of age, when they are brought
10 nv .hou. fully - per cent are crooked,
foo4nI Either they roll over to the out
,;l, NJ, f., the inside. causing the foot to
.,o in nr toe out. At first | could not
,o,,n thr mystery and could not find any
an, who ,.ouId tell me, although | con-
.,,toJ authorities of that time. | then
.pt about a series of Investigations cover
..,, fr,, wears and this is what | found:
rbqt I'm the coId winters of the northern
..o+c. the colts were put i'll box stalls or
.4rov she'd, and kept there for four or
frc months on straw, or some other ma
,.r;aI and rs there was nothing to wear
arqfr,t the hoof it grew to great length.
That part next the ground was thin and
,r:ttIc anj when the colt was turned out
IN rough. stony or hillside pastures, on
.;.io ar the other of the hoof broke off.
Tbfs threw the weight more on that side
anil it kept wearing on that side until
The whole anatomy of the foot and leg
mas changed to conform to the condi-
ion Of the hoof.' CDR. Brodhead here
bowed spccimens of the feet and ankles
bf horses that had been injured and de-
omed by these one-sided hoofs.)
1.-THE remedy is to have the hoof pared
own even and we'll, as short as it will
ear, before turning the colt out to pas
pre. Have the hoofs pared just as if
be colt we're to be shod. Follow this up,
eppjng the hoofs even and short until
he colt goes to the forge to be shod and
our horses will not be troubled with
rocked feet If the colt goes to the
orge with crooked feet to be shod, the
hoe smith has a constant warfare with
lat colt all his life in attempts to
raighten the feet, and the horse Will
ways wear out the quickest that side
the shoe that is the lowest.
80. let me warn the colt-owner to
ok well to the feet of his animals dur
lg their cOlthood days, as it may be
ther the making of valuable horses or
bose that are nearly worthless. Such /,
oubles as ringbones, sidebones, spavins |,
bd others are brought on by throwing |.
le weight of the horse on an unevenly- !
blanced hoof, straining cords and fga- |
ents and muscles of the leg.
"Never keep colt standing Oh a hard .
Dor is too drying to the hoof and the !
Dor is too drying to the hoof and the |
bping one puts too much strain on the |
ck chords This advice applies as well !
the Old horse as to the colt.
"Never allow the shoeing smith to put
hot shoe to the hoOf or burn or scOrtch .
at ALL This burning makes the hoof .
little and closes up the tubes that run .
bm the bottom of the hoOf to the tis I
es above. Thus, the hoOf is weakened .
may be ruined.
Beware of too large nails, filing deep .
bases under the nails and rasping the
ter walls of the hoof, for breaking the
Gering of the hoOf will cause its dry
|, often starting contractions and corns.
wyas keep the foot of colt or horse
as natural condition as possible, and
the feet do become dry and hard, use
erinary petroleum, as that will soften
hOOf, toughen it and hasten it's
with. Do not use any animal or veg
pie oils on the hOof, as serious results
follow the continued use of any such
These oils fill up the little tubes
he hOOf and destroy their functions -