HORSE AND OX SHOEING. 209 



the smith, perhaps, not taking into consideration that the 

 weight of the horse causes the sole to descend. There should 

 be at least the thickness of a cent between the shoe and the 

 sole. 



Shoes for all Horses should be of good length and well 

 fitted around the quarters. Here is the thinnest portion of 

 the whole wall, and if the shoe does not come full out to 

 to the outside wall, it presses in upon the sole, producing, 

 perhaps, either rupture of the wall called quarter-cracks, or 

 corns and bruises on the sole. More of the weight of the 

 horse comes on the quarters than on any part of the hoof. 

 Special care should be taken that no portion of the quarter 

 be removed by the rasp. A shoe may and should, in many 

 cases, be set back, and the toe of the hoof cut off with the point 

 of a scythe, especially when the hoof is flat — and be rasped 

 off smooth. But to rasp the hoof all over, as is often done 

 to make it look well, is very injurious. Apply the rasp no 

 higher up than the clinches of the nails. There is a peculiar 

 enamel covering the surface of the hoof, provided by nature 

 for its protection. The removal of this enamel disposes the 

 wall to dry up and crack, and sometimes even produces 

 inflammation. 



Shoes for tripping and stumbling may be turned up slightly 

 at the toe like a sled-shoe, and the hoof pared to receive the 

 part thus turned up. Shoes for stumblers should not be heavy, 

 especially at the toe. 



Hoop Shoes. — These are seldom needed except where it 

 is necessary to relieve the heel, as in case of corns or quarter- 

 cracks. They cover too much of the foot, and retain noxious 

 matter, and are more unnatural than any other shoe. 



Clips. — These are substantially reversed calks. I have 

 often seen the wall of the hoof opened up quite a distance 

 to receive them. Sometimes the hoof is so weakened by this 

 means as to produce rupture. There may be cases where they 

 are useful. 



Tips. — These cover only that part of the hoof towards the 

 toe, and are designed to protect the edges of the hoof, while 

 the animal is at pasture. But they should be considered only 

 as impediments. The benefit to be derived from the entire 

 hoof coming to the ground is far greater than any saving 



