OPENING the HEELS
.—The ceremony of opening a horse's heels is sometimes necessary, when they are become contracted by so constantly standing upon the dry litter, and hot dung of stables, in the Metropolis; a circumstance which occurs much less in the country, where the defect is but little known. Although there can be no doubt of a hoof's contracting in a great degree by the means already mentioned, it must be more so, where the hoofs are not OILED or STOPPED for weeks, or, probably, months together. It is, however, a matter of doubt, whether the back-handed stroke of the smith's rasp in SHOEING, is not a more constant or frequent cause of the narrowness of the heels than any other. Let it arise from whatever cause, the remedy with them is always ready; "OPEN THE HEELS;" or, in other words, cut away; first with the BUTTRESS, and then with the drawing-knife, till little or nothing is left to cut: when the basis of bearing is taken away, the heel is let down to the ground, the TENDONS are put upon the STRETCH, the horse, being divested of his natural support, hobbles like a cripple, and there is no remedy, but to wait with patience for a perfect regeneration of parts so wantonly destroyed.