The influence of the soil upon the horse's feet and legs has been much spoken of; but it has been much exaggerated. Horses reared in soft marshy pastures have large flat feet, low at the heels, and weak everywhere. On dry ground the hoof is hard, strong, and small, the sole concave, and the heels high. But to confer any peculiar character upon the hoof, or produce any change upon it, a long and continued residence upon the same soil is necessary. A period of six months does, perhaps, produce a change, but in general it is so insignificant that it is not apparent.

The low temperature at which the feet and legs are kept in a moist pasture has probably some influence in abating inflammation in these parts; but the benefit can not be very great. The legs become finer, free from tumor and gourdi-ness, but they would improve nearly or quite as soon, and as much, in a loose box.

When the pastures are hard, baked by the sun, unshod horses are apt to break away the crust, and they often come home with hardly horn enough to hold a nail. Feet that have never been shod suffer less; others should in general be preserved by light shoes, especially on the fore feet; kicking horses, when shod behind, are rather dangerous among others.

It has been supposed that the act of grazing throws considerable stress upon the tendons of the fore legs, and ultimately impairs them. This has been urged against grazing hunters; but so far as sound legs are concerned, there seems to be no truth in the supposition, and it has certainly never been proved.