SHOEING. 



49 



for by the thinness of the shoe. In some simple cases, nailing the 

 shoe to the heel, as shown in Fig. 558, may be sufficient to hold the 

 quarters firmly enough to enable spreading them as desired The 

 objection is that the wall is so thin at the point of the heels, that it 

 may be difficult to get a good nail-hold without pricking or break- 

 ing out ; besides, the nailing cannot be repeated. The nails should 

 be small and driven very carefully, getting as much hold as the horn 

 will admit of. The supposed objection to this plan of opening the 

 quarters is, that it prevents their natural elasticity by their undue 

 confinement. But this is not a valid objection ; because in the di- 



FiGS. 520, 521. — How a Horse Stands when Sore-footed or Lame. 



rection it is desired to give them freedom outward, it only facilitates 

 it, while at the same time it gives a certainty and positiveness of re- 

 lief that cannot well be secured in any other way. 



In fact, herein lies most of the success in the management of all 

 conditions of contraction. In my experience I never have found a 

 smith who could catch the points of properly preparing the foot and 

 fitting the shoes for such cases. In every instance I have been 

 compelled .to stand over the shoer and dictate every movement or 

 do part of the work myself First, the want of judgment in prepar- 

 ing the foot ; second, in adapting the weight of the shoe to the foot, 

 and fitting the clips so as to enable opening the quarters easily and 

 .surely as desired. 



Mr. Roberge's Method. 



Since writing the foregoing my attention has been called to a 



