SHOEING. 



47 



all the bending — opening that quarter too much without affecting 

 the other at all. Another cause of difficulty is not having the 

 tongs convenient with which to spread the shoe, and it is put off 

 too long ; and when finally attempted, done so roughly, or opened 



so much as to 

 cause violent in- 

 flammation and 

 lameness. With the 

 spreaders, this dif- 

 ficulty is entirely 

 overcome. 



Opening the 

 Heels. 



The method of 

 doing this should 

 be about as fol- 

 lows : First, meas- 

 ure between the 

 heels of the shoe 

 carefully, by "cut- 

 ting a bit of straw 

 ©r stick the exact length between them, and then estimate how 

 much each heel will bear opening without causing soreness. Un- 

 less the foot is very soft and elastic, it is hardly prudent the first 

 time to open them more than a quarter or three eighths 

 of an inch. It is well to first open the quarter most 

 contracted, which, until brought out to 

 balance with the other, should be 

 opened the most. Then measure again 

 and spread the opposite side. If 

 opened too much, or enough to cause 

 soreness, a few light taps of the ham- 

 mer against the outside will set it back. 

 The feet should be kept soft by stop- 

 ping with flaxseed-meal, and tying two 

 or three thicknesses of blanket around, 

 and wetting occasionally. In the course 

 of an hour or two examine the condi- 

 tion of the feet carefully. If the horse puts out one foot, or indi- 

 cates the least soreness, the quarters have been opened too much, 



• Fig. 512. Fig, 513. Fig. 514. 



Shoe Should Conform to Foot. The Shoe Being too Small and 

 Badly Abjusted, the Foot is Compressed 

 and Necessarily Injured. 



Figs. 515, 516. — Very Common Re 



suit of Wearing Small, Bad 



Fitting Shoes. 



