OPENING the HEELS

.—The ceremony of opening a horse's heels is sometimes nece ary, 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 le 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 narrowne 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.