Page:Horses and roads.djvu/238

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been validated.
222
APPENDICES.

it that they merely answer, ‘And a good job too.’ The frog does not become hard, as the crust, sole, and bars do. It feels like a firm piece of indiarubber, and answers its purpose well by preventing concussion to the whole limbs, an office which it is debarred from fulfilling when the foot is shod in the old-fashioned style. My farrier asked me if he should use up the old-fashioned shoes which he had on hand, as it was a pity to keep them. I said it would be a sin to use them.

As will be seen in the commencement of this letter, horses when running on stone paved roads slip very much when shod on the old-fashioned system. Now, sir, if the only advantage to be gained by using ‘tips’ would be to prevent horses from slipping, I would use them in preference to the old shoe. But as ‘Free Lance’ has so ably pointed out, this is only one of the many advantages. Horses shod with tips can pull a much heavier load, and with less exertion than a horse with a full shoe. This I have repeatedly proved. They trot carelessly along without fear of a fall. I have several horses with chat hideous and incurable blemish—capped elbow—which is brought about, so veterinaries say, by the heel of the full shoe; this cannot happen when using tips; cutting and brushing also cease with the use of ‘tips.’

June 15.
Humane.




Appendix L.

Unshod Horses.

Sir,—I wish to say a few words to your readers in favour of the theory propounded by ‘Free Lance’—a theory,