662 



THE HORSE 



wide, and punched with eight counter-sunk nail-holes, the English plan of 

 fullering not being adopted. The holes are also punched fully the third of 

 an inch from the edge of the shoe, and the nails are driven in a very great 

 slant, so that they come out little more than half-an-inch above the shoe, as 

 represented in Fig. 121. By adopting this plan, several advantages are said 

 to be gained, as compared with the English method, which Mr. Goodwin, who 

 advocates the French shoe (yet proposes another on exactly the opposite 

 principles), enumerates as follows : — " If we refer to the action of the fore- 

 leg, it will tend to explain some of the advantages to be derived from the 

 curved shoe. When a horse is about to move, the first indication of motion 

 is a bend at the knee, which necessaril}' raises the heels, and they become 

 more and more elevated, till the toe (which is the last part that leaves the 

 ground) is suspended for the moment that the foot is lifted. The base of 

 the foot, just at its leaving the ground, is almost perpendicular ; when the 



Fio. 121.— The French Shoe. 



knee is bent to its fullest extent, the foot is then in the same position, with 

 the heels of the shoe pointing upwards. If we consider this final part of 

 the motion of the limb, we find the movement of the foot very nearly 

 describe a semicircle, and on viewing the form of the joints connected with 

 action, the necessity for a curve at the toe is clearly demonstrated. Again, 

 the form of the shoe, worn out, at once shows that it must be more suitable 

 to put on a new one of that form, rather than to suffer the action of the 

 leg to be opposed until it is worn to that form. In the second part of the 

 action, when the foot comes to the ground, the quarters and heels touch 

 first, and they are the only parts occupied in placing it on the ground again. 

 There may be deviations from this general rule, as in those horses that 

 have bad action ; also when horses are drawing heavy weights, it must 

 necessarily differ. The fore-legs may be considered simply as pillars of 

 support, having no power of themselves to propel the body forward, pro- 

 gression being entirely performed by the hind parts ; and if it were not so, 

 the action would be different, as I have before observed it to be in those 



