USEFUL HINTS RESPECTING CARE OF HORSES.

Patea Mail, Volume 1, Issue 10, 15 May 1875, Page 3

USEFUL HINTS RESPECTING CARE OF HORSES.

A correspondent of the “ Farmer” thus summarises a few of the important things that horse keepers may, with profit, bear in mind.. A saddle put on loosely with a slack girth is very irritating to a horse, and soon produces a sore back. A harness, providing it he good at the start, kept soft and pliable with noatsfoot oil, will last almost a lifetime. It is stronger because slightly elastic, anil will seldom wear off the hair, A horse left uncovered when not in exercise, will grow a heavy coat of coarse hair. This becomes a hindrance to rabid travelling, and should be prevented by judicious blanketing. Your horses slices will hold on longer if the clinches are not weakened by' the file in finishing. Insist that the file does not take off the end of the nail whore turned over. Some horses have a habit of stepping on one side of the foot, perhaps to avoid pressure on a hidden corn. That part of the shoe exposed to severe wear should be protected with steel. All carriage shafts of right construction should allow the body of the animal perfect freedom, and only

touch at the well-padded saddle, and full collar. An over-reaching horse—one whoso Iliad feet are frequently hitting the forward slices—should wear heavy slices forward and light ones behind. The theory is that the heavier hoof will bo thrown a little forward ahead at each step than the lighter one.