business to lead out the horse somewhere to comb and curry him; and
after his morning's feed to unhalter him from the manger,[9] so that
he may come to his evening meal with greater relish. To secure the
best type of stable-yard, and with a view to strengthening the horse's
feet, I would suggest to take and throw down loosely[10] four or five
waggon loads of pebbles, each as large as can be grasped in the hand,
and about a pound in weight; the whole to be fenced round with a
skirting of iron to prevent scattering. The mere standing on these
will come to precisely the same thing as if for a certain portion of
the day the horse were, off and on, stepping along a stony road;
whilst being curried or when fidgeted by flies he will be forced to
use his hoofs just as much as if he were walking. Nor is it the hoofs
merely, but a surface so strewn with stones will tend to harden the
frog of the foot also.

[7] Lit. "A damp and smooth floor may be the ruin of a naturally good
hoof." It will be understood that the Greeks did not shoe their
horses.

[8] See Courier, p. 54, for an interesting experiment tried by himself
at Bari.

[9] Cf. "Hipparch," i. 16.

[10] Or, "spread so as to form a surface."

But if care is needed to make the hoofs hard, similar pains should be
taken to make the mouth and jaws soft; and the same means and
appliances which will render a man's flesh and skin soft, will serve
to soften and supple a horse's mouth.[11]