310 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



It is wonderful to note the thousands of good, young, finely built 

 animals that are employed upon the streets of our large cities; they're 

 brought in with the best of feet and limbs, full of vim, vigor and vitality, 

 but in a year, or probably two years, they are advertised as "sore-footed," 

 suitable for farmers' use, and are again returned to the country, worn 

 out, haggard looking wrecks of their former selves. WTiat caused this 

 change? Dear reader, you know as well as I do that the majority, the 

 great majority, is caused by bad and indifferent shoeing; not ignorance 

 of the principles of shoeing, but carelessness, such as excessive cutting 

 out of the sole, frog and bars, excessive use of the rasp, both on the wall 

 and sole portion of the hoof, burning the sole, ill-fitting shoes, nail wounds, 

 and a hundred and one other little neglected duties that appear as the 

 "chasm," as it were, by which we designate the "good" from the "bad" 

 mechanic, the careful from the careless mechanic; the man who holds 

 the steady job from the "bum." 



If other states would follow in the foot-steps of Iowa, these contests 

 would eventually become one of the best, grandest and most humane 

 attempts ever promoted by man for the good and welfare for our most 

 noble animal. 



There is no reason why a good, sound, young animal should not serve 

 his master for ten years at least, instead of only two or three, and I firmly 

 believe this possible if we could avoid the numerous foot troubles that are 

 brought on by inferior or neglected shoeing. 



In connection with contests of this character, it would be a good idea 

 to give prizes for pathological shoeing and shoeing diseased feet, illus- 

 trating the most up to date and practical methods for the treatment of 

 corns, side and ring bones, quarter and toe cracks or any other foot or 

 leg trouble that may yield to mechanical aid, how to make and fit a bar 

 shoe properly, the benefits derived from a side calk set here or there on a 

 shoe, for certain cases. Things .like the above would prove of great 

 interest to both the public and also the horseshoers, and it would have 

 the desired effect most sought; namely, education for the masses. 



When shoeing a case of lameness, it would be an excellent idea to have 

 a practical man, well posted in anatomy, to lecture during the procedure, 

 explaining each act of the operation, how it should be done, and why it 

 must be done so. 



I believe that practical demonstrations of this class will eventually be 

 held in connection with most of our larger fairs, and should be held at 

 every small fair. Let the local horseshoers get together and hold similar 

 contests; it would bring them together at least once a year and they could 

 exchange their ideas and experiences and thereby add to their store of 

 knowledge, become friendly with their neighbors and become more en- 

 lightened, consequently better mechanics and men. 



