Page:Horse shoes and horse shoeing.djvu/49

 The Greek warrior adds: ‘A horse must also move his hoofs when he is rubbed down, or when he is annoyed with flies, as much as when he is walking; and the stones which are thus spread about strengthen the of the feet.’ In another book he repeats the suggestion as to the improvement of the feet by this kind of pavement, and adds, ‘He that makes trial of this suggestion will give credit to others which I shall offer, and will see the feet of his horse become firm.' The word Στρογγύλους, here employed to denote firmness, has evidently the same signification as the Latin word teres: that is, something smooth, round, and of a proper shape, indicative of strength, soundness, and durability.

It is curious to note a similar expression in use at the present day among the Arabs of the Sahara. ‘The hoof round and hard. The hoof should resemble the cup of a slave. They walk on hoofs hard as the moss-covered stones of a stagnant pool. The frogs hard and dry. The frogs concealed beneath the hoofs are seen when he lifts his feet, and resemble date-stones in hardness.’

Furthermore, Xenophon says: ‘Those horses whose feet are hardened with exercise, will be as superior on rough ground to those which are not habituated to it, as persons who are sound in their limbs to those who are lame.’ In the same work, when treating of the duties pertaining to a commander of cavalry, he dwells on the necessity of attending to the horses' feet: ‘You must pay attention to their feet, so that they (the horses) may be in a condition to be ridden even on rough ground, knowing