44 ON SHOEING. 



come more immediately into contact with the 



ijround. 



£3 



The parts which are most prominent are 

 the wall, the binders, and the frog. These 

 parts, therefore, constitute the chief support of 

 the foot. 



When the horse is shod, the inward surface 

 of the shoe becomes the support of the foot in- 

 stead of the ground ; hence it will not be irra- 

 tional to conclude, that the nearer this support 

 resembles the surface of the earth, the better it 

 will be adapted to the foot. 



The quarters and heels are naturally capable 

 of an elastic expansion when the hoof is not 

 shod. This elasticity contributes to facilitate 

 the circulation of the blood through the foot, 

 to furnish a spring to the action of the leg, and 

 to lessen concussion. It has been before ob- 

 served, that the foot possessed three points of 



support. 



