CARE OF THE HORSE'S FOOT.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 174, 25 July 1928, Page 19

CARE OF THE HORSE'S FOOT.

Under present conditions it is almost necessary to have all work horses shod, due to the fact that the greater percentage of our roads are hard surfaced. Such roads are very hard on the unshod hoof, and will soon produce lameness, tven where the horse is to be used on farm exclusively it is no doubt advisable to keep it shod, otherwise its feet will be neglected and undesirable growth will result with its accompanied lameness or faulty gait. During the hot summer months or when an animal is worked upon a hardsurfaced road or a pavement, it is a very common occurrence for its hoofs to become very dry and hard. This is due to the evaporation of the natural moisture of the horn. I have had horses under my care that have developed lameness several times from this neglect. The extreme dryness and hardness prevents any elasticity of the walls and pinches the delicate structures within, very much the same as a hard, dry, stiff boot or shoe would pinch the foot. There are several hoof ointments and preparations upon the market, but they are of little value unless the hoof has first been well saturated with moisture.

In Cold Water.

This can be Cone in a number of ways; | it can be done by standing the horse* in cold water for two or three hours, and many stables have a soaking tub or tank built in the stall for this purpose; the water need not extend more than one or two inches above the top of the horn. It can also be accomplished very well bystanding the horse in a puddle or small stream if one happens to be near. A very easy way and one that can be applied in any place is to secure large pieces of cloth, soak them in cold water and tie them around the pastern so they will hang over the top of the hoof. As soon as the horn has taken up sufficient moisture its evaporation can be prevented by the use of oil or a good hoof dressing. Linseed oil or cottonseed oil applied with a swab or a brush will do very well, but should be applied at least once each day. A very good hoof dressing, and one that improves the appearance of the horse's foot, is made as follows: Pine tar, three pints; spirits of turpentine, one pint; and linseed oil, one-half gallon. Mix well and apply to the surface of the hoof with a brush. If the horse Js to be taken into the dust it is well to apply as long before going to work as possible. After the hoof is in good condition it can be kept that way by the use of any of the methods described above. llie Live Stock Journal" (England).