Shoeing (nāl bundie).
Shoeing is a subject on which a volume might be written of itself, far beyond the scope of this little work, and for further information on the art I would refer the reader to the treatises by Dr. Flemming and W. Hunting, Esq.; but as both these deal with European practice, I will only mention a few differences in the art as performed by the native smith, or “nāl bund.” In most large military stations where there are European troops, permission can generally be obtained to have horses shod at the regimental forge, but in out-of-the-way places the native artist has to be employed. All horses require shoeing at least once a month, and some oftener, as with some the horn grows quicker than others, and the hoof requires to be shortened oftener. In these cases, if the shoe is not worn out at the toe, it can be replaced after the foot is shortened; this is what the English smith calls “a remove,” the native “khol bundi.” It is advisable after work to lift up the foot and look if the shoes (nāl) have shifted or not, also to examine the clench or point of the nail (preg) where it has been turned over, as it sometimes gets turned up and sticks out. If this happens on the inside of the hoof it is likely to cut the opposite fetlock (mawah lagna), and make a bad wound that may leave a permanent scar or blemish. Some horses, from bad formation, move their limbs so closely together that they always rub the fetlock joints when they move. This sometimes can be corrected by what is known as a brushing shoe; but some badly-shaped animals will always do it, no matter what sort of shoe is put on. Various forms of pads or brushing boots are sold to prevent this and protect the part; but, in my opinion, what is known as the Irish boot is the best. It consists of a thick piece of blanket, or “mundah,” about six inches wide and the length of the circumference of the leg. This is fastened round the fetlock with a tape or string so that the ends are in the middle line of the leg behind, the upper half being doubled over the string so that there are two thicknesses to protect the fetlock joint. I have found this far better than the more elaborate contrivances sold; it is cheap—any one can make one in a few minutes—it does not collect mud and dirt like the others do, and it does not become hard like those boots made out of leather, which, unless carefully looked to and kept soft with soap (sabon) or dubbing (momrogan), are liable to cut horses badly. The only care required in putting on the Irish boot is not to tie it too tight, or the tapes may cut the skin. Some pieces of horn hanging loose, that are being cast off from the sole and frog in the natural process of growth, are often seen. These are very likely to collect dirt and moisture, and if they do they should be removed, but otherwise be left alone. They can generally be pulled off with the fingers, a piece of stick, or the hoof-picker. As a rule, in the plains of India the majority of horses do not require shoes on their hind feet, unless the roads are mended with stone, or the climate is very damp and the horn gets soft. In the rainy season, if much work is being done, they perhaps then require shoeing behind, but in the dry season the majority go just as well without. In the hills, where the paths are rocky and stony, horses, of course, require shoeing behind. Unlike the European, the native smith shoes what is called “cold,” that is, he has a number of shoes in sizes from which he selects one as near a fit as possible, which he hammers into shape on a small anvil without heating it. Native shoes are generally perfectly plain, i.e. flat on both sides, and, unless specially made, are never “seated,” i.e. sloped on the foot surface, or “bevelled,” i.e. sloped on the ground surface. As a rule, the nail-holes are what the smith calls too fine, i.e. they are too near the outer rim of the iron, and to get a hold the shoe has to be brought back so that the horn projects over the iron. To obviate this the smith removes the toe with the rasp, thus weakening the horn at the very place where it is required to be strong. The shoes are generally somewhat too small also, and to get the nail to take hold they have to be set back in the same way as when the nail-holes are too fine. A native smith, unless he has been shown how, never knows how to turn down the point of the nail after it has been driven through the hoof to form the clench; he never cuts off the superfluous part, but turns it round in a curl with the pincers, and, needless to say, this is exceedingly likely to cause brushing. Another great fault is his fondness of pairing and slicing away the frog and sole, which he will have to be stopped in doing. I have seldom seen a horse pricked in shoeing by a native, but if left to themselves they never get the bearing true, and as a result corns are of common occurrence. Of course, such light shoes as those of native manufacture have not a great lot of wear in them, and in heavy, holding ground would pull off, but on the hard level plains of India they last well enough, and the native smith, if his faults are known and corrected, is not a bad workman after his own lights.
GLOSSARY OF HINDUSTANI WORDS.
Adarwah, parched barley.
Aghari, a head rope.
Akh-ta, a gelding.
Bad hazmie, indigestion, dyspepsia.
Bagh, rein.
Bagh dorie, leading-rope.
Bajara, millet seed.
Balti, bucket.
Baniah, corn-dealer.
Bāns, bamboo.
Bhai, brother, relative.
Bherie, iron shackles for horse’s legs.
Bhestie, water carrier.
Bichalie, bedding straw.
Buk bund, saddle sheet.
Burradah, sawdust.
Charpoy, native bedstead.
Charragh, native oil lamp.
Chattie, earthen pot.
Chaurie, fly-whisk.
Cheil, to dig up grass.
Chick, split bamboo window blind.
Chick-na, muzzle.
Choker, bran.
Chuckie, hand-mill.
Chunna, gram.
Churrie, dried shorgum stalk used for cattle fodder.
Compound, enclosure round an Indian house.
Cultee, the black gram used as horse food in Madras.
Dah, a bill-hook.
Dah-na, a double bridle.
Dast, diarrhœa.
Dastour, custom, percentage, perquisites.
Dhan, unhusked rice.
Dha nah, grain.
Dhoob, an Indian grass on which horses are fed.
Dhool, a small leather bucket used for drawing water.
Durzie, a tailor.
Farakie, body-roller.
Gajar, carrots.
Gehun, wheat.
Ghorra, horse.
Ghorrie, mare.
Gudda, donkey.
Gumalo, earthen vessel shaped like a milk pan, holding about a gallon.
Gunna, sugar-cane.
Gurdaine, horse-rug.
Hawah, air.
Hookha, a pipe.
Hurrialie, a species of grass.
Jai, oats.
Jamp, a straw screen.
Jaru, a broom.
Jharan, duster.
Jhool, country horse clothing made out of felt.
Jonk, leech.
Jow, barley.
Kali nimuk, black salt.
Kar wah, a sort of cotton cloth.
Kazai, watering or snaffle bridle.
Khal, linseed cake.
Khansilla, hood.
Khasil, green food.
Khawid, green food.
Khoalie, charcoal.
Khol bundie, a remove in horse shoeing.
Khua, a well.
Khus khus, lemon grass.
Kicher ke muttee, clay.
Kinch mhal, twitch.
Kirim, worm, weevil.
Kumbal, blanket.
Kurlie, manger.
Kurpa, a short iron hoe, used to dig grass with.
Kutcher, mule.
Malish, grooming.
Make, a wooden tent-peg.
Makie-ara, eye-fringe to keep off flies.
Maund, 80 lbs. weight.
Mawah lagna, brushing of the fetlocks.
Missa bhoosa, grain stalks crushed in thrashing.
Moat, pulse grain.
Momrogan, dubbing.
Mote, pulse grain.
Mung, pulse grain.
Mussuk, leather water-bag.
Muttie, earth.
Muzzuma, leather heel-strap.
Nāl, a horseshoe.
Nāl bund, a shoeing-smith.
Naund, a large wide-mouthed earthen vessel holding several gallons.
Newar, cotton webbing.
Nimmuk, salt.
Nirrick, the official price list.
Nukta, head stall.
Numdah, felt pad for putting under a saddle.
Paite, body-roller.
Pani, water.
Pecharie, heel ropes.
Preg, nail.
Putter ke nimmuk, rock salt.
Puttie, a roller bandage.
Ret, sand.
Reita, soap nuts.
Rhal, linseed cake.
Roll kerna, to exercise.
Sabon, soap.
Sabur, chamois leather.
San, a stallion.
Saz, harness.
Seer, a two-pound weight.
Shalgham, turnip.
Suffaid bhoosa, wheat straw that has been crushed and broken in thrashing.
Sum khodna, hoof-picker.
Sun, tow or hemp.
Syce, a groom.
Tobra, a nose-bag.
Tokar, to trip or stumble.
Tokrie, a basket.
Tulwar, a curved native sword.
Ulsie, linseed.
Zin, a saddle.
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