MANUAL FOR ARMY HORSESHOERS. 27 



fourths through or the shoe will be bulged and ruined. The tool 

 is held slanted outward to conform to the direction which the nail 

 should follow and the hole is started a little outside of the center of 

 the web. 



Heat one side and first start the hole nearest the toe. Its proper 

 position can be learned by examining a service snoe of the same 

 size. The hole at the bend of the quarter is next started, and 

 finally the hole midway between the two. The plate shoe, on 

 account of its light weight, requii'es but six nails, three on each, 

 side. 



Heat the other side and proceed as before. 



The nail holes must not be placed too far back. A shoe nailed 

 back of the turn of the quarter ^vill impede the expansion of the 

 hoof and eventually cause contraction of the heels. 



If, in punching the nail holes, bulges appear near them on the 

 edges of the bar or shoe, they must be removed by working over 

 the horn. (Same position and means as for drawing*^heels.) 



Punch out the nail holes on the ground surface, holding the 

 pritchel slanted outward; then punch out the holes on the upper 

 surface, holding the pritchel slanted inward. 



In pritcheling out a nail hole, to avoid blunting or breaking 

 the point of the pritchel, that part of the shoe where the nail hole 

 is to be is held over the pritchel or hardy hole. 



16. Fitting.— The shoe is now ready for its final trial and is ap- 

 plied to the model. 



