HORSES : CLACKING AND OVER-REACHING.

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 174, 19 June 1873, Page 2

HORSES : CLACKING AND OVER-RE ACHING.

Common as arc those two faults, they are frequently misunderstood An over-roach is looked upon aa an unavoidable accident, and clacking is treated by irrational alteration of the hind feet shoes. We couple them together because they present some common features 15oth consist of interference ■with the fore foot by the hind one, both are due to some temporary delect in the action, and both con be prevented by. altering the form of shoe. Clacking, or as it is sometimes . called " forging," is the name given to ttie lound produced by the hinushoo striking the fore one in progression. It is usually heard at the trot, and seldom noticed m adult horses. It i 9 most common in young horses out of condition, and is especially noticeable when they are tired. The noise is produced by the hind, shoe striking the under surface of the fore one just behind the toe, not at the heels. When the blot* has been repeated so as to leave an impression, the marks are found on the inner edge of the foro shoe. This is important, as it hhows us that the length of the thoc is not at. fault, and it suggests the removal of the part where striking^ occurs. Komoval of this edge it equn alent to making a shoe concave instead of Hat on the ground surface, and such a shoe 'is found to effectually prevent a recurrence of the objection* able noise. The ordinary hunting shoe, especially the narrow one made in a " cress," is the best possible iorm. For harness, horses, whore more substance is required for wear, the ordinary shoe seated on the outside instead of the inside is usually sufficient. A case may be met with in which this alteration is not effective. We must then alter the hind shoes, making them square at the toes, — with two clips — one on either side—and set back a lit t'c on the foot. The nail at tho toe should not be rasped off, but allowed to protude a little. Too often the hind Bhoes are the first to sufl'er alteration, sometimes oft a very objectionable kind, eg., we have seen the toe of a hind, shoe made diamond shaped and prominent, so as to come in. contact with tho sole of tho forefoot instead of the shoe. This is a most irrational and somewhat dangrroub expedient. It leaves the offending part of the fore shoe untouched, and favours the infliction of injury to the foot. Even when the hind shoe is only made short and placed buck on the foot there is a risk of the horn at the toe being unduU worn, and. there is a shortening of the leverage of the foot which must moie or {ess atFect the powers of progression. If a horse " clacks,," rest contented at first with altering the fore shoe as we have described ; improve his condition,, and ride him up to the bit, but not past his pace. " Over-reaching " is an injury to the heel of the fore foot. It is sometimes merely a bruise, but more often a lacerated wound, a small round portion of skin being left hanging, nearly detached from the heel. The offending part of th<i hind shoe is its inner circumference or edge, so that the injury must be caused by the hind foot being in the heel, and the skin caught as the foot is retracted. Ihe inner edge at the too of a hind shoe becomes very sharp after a few days' wear, and w ill cut like a knife. As in " clacking," the indication for prevention is to remove tho offending edge. This cannot be thoroughly done with the file, but when tho shoe is hot, the edge behind-tbe too can be cut out with the " fuller " 60 as to leave the shoe concave. As over-reach in % is an accident peculiar to the gallop, it is well always to shoe hunters 50 as to guard ngainst the occur^ ronce. The neatest and best hind shoe for a hunter is made like the fore one in a " cress," and presents a concave ground surface and round edges. When a heel is injured, it is always well to try and save the pieco of skin. It should not bp cut off uutil it is certain that it will not reunite to the tissues beneath. One good fomenting on reaching the stable is enough ; after that, us© the simplest water-dressing, and under not circumstances^ use poultices, which only increaso the chances of a slough and retard the healing process. Should healing seem slow, apply a mild stimulant, such as a piece of wet lint with, a mixture of carbolic acid, one part, to glycerine, twenty parts. — Land and Water.