10 MANUAL FOR ARMY HORSESHOERS. 



The horseshoers' rasp (fig. 5) is used to prepare a level-bearing 

 surface of the foot; to remove extra length of toe; to smooth the 

 edges of the wall; to even clinches; to make a slight groove under 

 eacli clinch; and to run lightly over the clinches in order to smooth 

 them. The rasp that is used on the hoof should never be used at 

 the bench; use an old rasp for working on metal. 



The rounding hammer (fig. 10) 2iA\d fitting hammer (fig. 11) are used 

 in fitting and in turning shoes. 



The hoof tester (fig. 7) is used to locate injuries or soreness of the 

 sole. Place one point on the sole and the other on the wall; press 

 by closing the handles; shift the points and continue until the 

 horse flinches. The pinchers may be used for the same purpose, 

 but are not as satisfactory. 



The clinching tongs (fig. 6) are used to bend the clinches downward. 



The clinching block (fig. 15) is used in turning the clinches. 



The tongs (fig. 8) are used in handling hot metals. 



The pritchel (fig. 16) is made by hand from round or octagonal 

 steel, and is used for opening the nail holes in horseshoes. The 

 point is drawn the same size and shape as the shank of a nail half- 

 way between head and point, so that the hole punched in the shoe 

 will fit the nail snugly and not allow any motion. Examine the 

 nail carefully and learn the exact size for the pritchel. To draw 

 out the point of the pritchel, heat it to a cherry red and, placing 

 the pointed end flat on the face of the anvil near the far edge, strike 

 with the hammer held at an angle to properly change the upper 

 face, turning it as necessary so that the finished point will be of 

 the shape desired. Never heat the pritchel beyond a cherry red; 

 cool it gradually by placing it in the coal at the edge of the forge 

 and never in the water. The face of the horseshoers' anvil should 

 have a round edge near the base of the horn on the far side. This 

 edge is used for sharpening tools. 



Hardies, the straight (fig. 12) and the half-round (fig. 13), are 

 used to cut hot metals. Their principal use for horseshoers is in 

 cutting off the heels of shoes, and for this purpose a sharp cut- 

 ting edge is required. When the hardy becomes dull the edge is 

 drawn out on the face of the anvil in the same manner as the 

 pritchel. A sharp edge is then put on by hot rasping, using the 

 smooth side of the rasp. After sparpening. the cutting edge should 

 be tempered as follows: Heat the blade of the hardy slowly to a 

 cherry red; hold the cutting edge under water so that about one- 

 half inch of the blade is irnmersed, and, when there is no longer 



