156 MANUAL OF MODERN FARRIERY. 



it to such an extent as to destroy tlie bars, and thus leaving 

 the frog elevated from the ground, but such extremes are 

 the result of ignorance ; for to allow the sole to thicken 

 must limit the expansive principle of the hoof, by rendering 

 it UD clastic, and consequently unyielding, which cannot fail 

 to militate against the comfort of the horse and impair his 

 usefulness. From this it is obvious that it would be decided 

 economy to pay the smith the value of the increased labour, 

 and it should be accomplished under the inspection of a 

 careful groom, or the owner himself. 



It is a grand mistake for persons allowing the shoes of 

 horses to remain on longer than three weeks or a month. 

 Whether the shoes are worn or not, they should be taken ofl 

 and the soles and heels thinned and pared. Without this 

 precaution the feet must become malformed. I have known 

 instances where riding-horses have been so seldom ridden or 

 exercised, that their shoes have lasted three and even four 

 months, and were not removed during this time, proceeding 

 in some cases from the parsimony of the owners, and in 

 others from their ignorance of the evil effects which would 

 r-esult therefrom. In some instances the shoes were made 

 thicker than was necessary, consequently the animal su1> 

 jected to carrying superfluous weight, besides being tightly 

 fastened on and provided with an extra number of nails, 

 and these too at the quarters. All of which increase the 

 tendency to thickening. It is perfectly clear tliat without 

 due attention to the above points, in proportion to the 

 deforce of neglect, so will the evil consequences increase, 

 and the hoof must contract and close up the foot round 

 the coronet. It is a notorious fact that low-heeled horses 

 are seldom liable to contraction of the hoof. 



Contraction is also caused by want of natural moisture. 

 ,lf, will be seen that horses at grass are seldom or never 



