CHAPTER Y. 

 NORMAL SHOEING. 



By normal slioeins: is meant the shoeing cf a sound foot of a 

 horse with proper gaits. 



RAISING THE FOOT. 



35. In preparing to raise a horse's foot never approach the animal 

 suddenly, for he will not only be startled, but a sudden pull at his 

 foot will probably disturb his balance, and the lifting will be more 

 difficult for both man and horse. 



To raise the forefoot, the shoer stands with his back to the horse's 

 head and places his inside hand on the horse's shoulder. Then, 

 bending over, he runs his hand gently down the back of the leg 

 until the fingers, with the thumb on the outside, are just above 

 the fetlock. The sheer's shoulder is pressed against the shoulder 

 of the horse, forcing the weight upon the other fore foot. (PI. XII, 

 fig. 1.) A slight grasp of the hand on the tendons is usually suffi- 

 cient to induce the horse to raise the foot. 



The shoer next straddles the horse's leg and holds the foot upon 

 his knees, standing so that his body is about opposite the horse's 

 shoulder, and in close to him, so that the horse's leg is not pulled 

 outward in a strained position. The sheer's toes should be turned 

 in to give strength to the position. (PI. XII, fig. 2.) 



36. Raising the hind foot is performed in two different ways. In 

 the first method the shoer, standing at the horse's flank and with 

 his back to the animal's head, bends until his shoulder presses the 

 horse's thigh, runs his hand gradually down the tendons and grasps 

 them as in raising the forefoot. In the second method, the one 

 generally employed, the shoer stands as in the first method, but 

 with his outside foot advanced (PL XIII, fig." 1); the hand nearest 

 the horse is placed upon the animal's hip, gently pushing him over 

 and forcing the weight upon the opposite hind foot; meanwhile 

 the other hand is run slowly down the back tendons from below 



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