SHOEING. 



21 



Fig. 438.— Horizontal Section of 

 the Horny Frog. 



a, Horn tubes : b, Cells between 

 tubes. 



rounded a little, and the colt driven barefoot. It is noticeable that ex- 

 cessive wear is always at the toe, and 

 that the heels rarely suffer, even on 

 bad roads, and this being true, tips or 

 thin steel plates only should be used, 

 and that thick and high heeled shoes 

 ^^ are not only certainly unnecessary 

 but seriously injurious — that, in fact, 

 in all cases the best shoeing for the 

 feet, for all roads and seasons, when 

 in a good condition of health, must 

 be such as will 

 permit them 

 to be as nearly 

 barefoot as possible, or, at least, that the 

 posterior part is so, yet sustaining the attri- 

 tion of wear to which they may be subjected, 

 prevent slipping, and best preserve the 

 natural adjustment of the feet. 



Tips or Thin Shoes. 



If tips or thin steel plates are to be used, 

 simply trim off the wall in front down to a 

 level with the sole, and adjust to, and nail on, 

 with four small nails, a small thin strip of 

 steel or iron a little broader than the thick- 

 ness of the wall. Steel would be best, be- 

 cause it admits of being made lighter, and 

 wears longer. The heels and frog should 

 not be interfered with unless one heel is 

 much higher than the other, when it should 

 be lowered sufficiently to restore the proper 

 adjustment. The objection to tips is that, 

 as the toe is growing, the heels are wearing, 

 which in time would be likely to increase 

 the strain upon the flexor tendon and its 

 appendages. This disproportion of wear 

 would be more rapid and noticeable should 

 the roads be wet and gravelly, as moisture Fig. 439.— Horizontal Section 

 and grit soften the horn and cause it to °* "°''"y "'^" ^"'^''a^''' 



break and wear away more rapidly, but not a, Wall with homy tubes; 

 1 1 1 lb, Horn tubes; c, Horn 1am- 



so much as may be supposed on paved j^^g ' 



streets and mud roads. The writer saw 



