HORSE-SHOEING. 789 



there. The shorter the shoe is, the less the horse slips ; and the frog has the same influence 

 in preventing this that an old hat placed under our own shoes would have in protecting us 

 from slipping on ice. 



It is necessary, nevertheless, that hoofs which have weak walls should be a little longer 

 shod, so that the gradually thinning branches reach to the heels, though not resting upon them. 

 For horses which have thin, convex soles, pieds combles, these long shoes should be also 

 used; and the toes should be more covered to prevent the sole touching the ground: at the 

 same time the shoe must be so fitted that it does not press upon the sole, and the heels and 

 frog rest upon the ground. This is the only true method of preserving the foot, and restor 

 ing it. ... A horse which has its heels weak and sensitive ought to be shod as short as 

 possible, and with their branches eponges so that the frog comes in contact with the ground ; 

 because the heels, having nothing beneath them, are benefited and relieved. 



Crescent shoes are all the more needful for a horse that has weak, incurvated quarters, 

 as they not only relieve them, but also restore them to their natural condition. Horses 

 which have contusions at the heels bleimes, corns should also be shod in this manner; and 

 for cracks sand-cracks at the quarter it is also advantageous. The sole, or frog, should 

 never be pared ; the wall alone should be cut down, if it is too long. When a horse cuts him 

 self with the opposite foot, the inner branch of the shoe ought to be shorter and thinner 

 than the outer. In order that the shoe wear a long time, I have used a nail of my invention, 

 the head of which is in the form of a cone, and the aperture in the shoe of the same shape, 

 and exactly filled by the nail. However much the shoe may be worn, it is always retained 

 in its place. 



This kind of nail possesses three other advantages: one, that it is less liable to be broken 

 at the neck, because it exactly fits the stamped hole ; the other, that it is smaller, and, in con 

 sequence, not likely to press on the sensitive part of the foot; and, lastly, that it does less 

 damage to the horse.&quot; 



In another connection, he recommends shoeing horses kept for general service, as 

 follows: &quot;The shoes must not be too long, or project beyond the heels, but only reach the 

 bars; neither must the hoofs, behind or before, be pared. The wall, or crust, alone should 

 be diminished in proportion as it may be too long. This should be done evenly; and neither 

 the sole nor frog must be cut : the latter should be allowed to project, if possible, above the 

 shoe, so that it may come into contact with the ground. The shoe ought to be about the 

 same strength throughout, or a little thicker and wider in the outer branch of the fore-foot, 

 and thin at the heels of the hind one. Be careful to stamp the nail-holes on the same line, 

 not in a zigzag manner. The holes should not be too coarse, as there is then danger of 

 pricking the horse, or binding the hoof with the stalk of the nail. 



The shoe should be stamped coarser outside than inside, because it may be necessary to 

 leave it wider outside. Do not bend the shoes in adjusting them, nor arch them: they 

 ought to be nearly flat; though they might be slightly curved, so as to preserve the wall of 

 the hoof. They should also follow the outline of the hoof, a little more to the outside than 

 the inside. When fitting, the shoe should not be kept too long a time on the hoof, for fear 

 of heating it. With this shoeing we may travel on slippery ground or grass land, in using 

 for each shoe two nails with long heads, which will prevent the horse from slipping. Also 

 during frost, on paved roads, ice, or snow, use these nails, as they prevent slipping; the 

 roads being hard, three nails are required; two in the outer branch, and one in the inner. 



These short shoes, thin at the heels, have caused the horses to walk on their frogs, which 

 are their points of support; and those which were lame at the heels are sound again; those 

 also whose inside quarters were contracted, bent over, and split (sand-crack), have been cured. 

 It has been the same with horses whose quarters and heels have been contracted (encastete): 

 these have been widened, and have assumed a proper shape. The same may be said of those 

 47 



