160 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



especially the outside form of the shoes. Lately a committee conver- 

 sant -with the subject was appointed to inquire into it, and report to 

 the Horse Guards, accompanying their report with a plan for a 

 uniform system, for the adoption of all the different regiments. The 

 cut represents the shoe thus recommended ; and though some good 

 authorities have found fault witli it, preferring to have the lower 

 surface concave, as in figure 14, rather than flat, as in this ; yet it 

 is a good useful shoe for a saddle horse, where there is much riding 

 on hard roads to do, and admitting easily of having toe and heel 

 caulks raised on it if needed for draught work. The cut is from a 

 fore foot shoe, the side not shown being represented by figure 8. 



Fig. 17. 



Figure 17 — Shows the ground side and toe tip of the common 

 English fore foot shoe, with double heels, for light harness work. 

 In all these shoes, and in all the different kinds of shoe used in any 

 part of Britain, provision is made in this or some similar form for 

 the steadying of the shoe upon the foot, and preventing of the forward 

 action of the foot upon the shoe. In all these shoes also the rounded 

 form of the toe shows a palpable contrast to the pointed shape of the 

 shoes, (figures 4, 5, 7. 9, 10 and 11,) which are but fair samples of 

 the form of shoe worn here till within the last few years. In all, 

 the nail holes are confined, as they ought to be, to the part of the 

 foot anterior to its point of greatest breadth ; and in all, a perfectly 

 level bearing is given to the wall of the hoof all round. 



