138 MODERN BLACKSMITHING 



different at different ages. It grows more in a young 

 horse and colt than in an old horse ; in a healthy foot 

 and soft, than in a diseased foot and hard. In a young 

 horse the hoof will grow about three inches in a year 

 and even more, while it grows less in an old horse. 

 The wall is fibrous, the fibers going parallel to each 

 other from the coronet to the ground. 



THE SOLE 



The horny sole is the bottom of the foot. This sole 

 is fibrous like the wall The sole is thickest at the 

 border, where it connects with the wall, and thinnest 

 at the center. The sole when in a healthy condition 

 scales off in flakes. This scale is a guide to the farrier 

 whereby he can tell how much to pare off. There are 

 different opinions in regard to the paring of the sole, 

 but that is unnecessary, for nature will tell how much 

 to cut off in a healthy foot. In a diseased foot it is 

 different ; then the horse-shoer must use his own good 

 judgment. It is, however, in very few cases that the 

 shoer needs to do more than just clean the sole. 

 Nature does the scaling off, or paring business, better 

 than any farrier. 



THE FROG 



The frog is situated at the heel and back part of the 

 hoof, within the bars; the point extending towards the 

 center of the sole, its base filling up the space left 

 between the inflection of the wall. This body is also 

 fibrous. The frog is very elastic and is evidently 

 designed for contact with the ground, and for the pre- 

 vention of jars injurious to the limbs. 



