The accidents of work are very numerous. A full description of each would form a volume as large as this. I select a few from those which occur most frequently, from those which may be prevented, and from those which require immediate attention.

Cutting

Young horses, timid horses, and those having ill-made legs, are apt to strike the fetlock-joint with the oppo-•ite foot. This is termed cutting, brushing, or interfering.

Fig. 18.

In almost every case, except when the horse is tired, this can be prevented by the shoeing-smith, who may apply a shoe like that represented in Fig. 18. When he can not, or when the fetlock is much swollen, a boot must be worn something like that represented in Fig. 19. It is nothing but a piece of cloth tied over the middle, with its upper half folded over the string. A leather flap is in use; it covers only the inside of the joint, and is secured by a single strap. It is apt to turn round and leave the part undefended.

Speedy cut is an injury of the same kind, and is produced in the same way, only the leg is struck higher up, and when the horse is going fast. The only way of preventing it is to cover the leg with a boot (see Fig. 19), A B or to apply a pad to the foot which strikes the leg. The boot does best, when on, the knee-joint must be quite free, and the tendons must have no inconvenient pressure. The pad will not sit on every foot, but it sometimes answers very well. It should be stuffed with horse-hair, and made to go quite round the foot. It is secured by a single strap and buckle, and is about an inch and a half broad.

Fig. 19.