CHAPTER YI. 



GAITS— SHOEING TO CONFIRM OR ALTER SAME— FAULTS 

 IN GAITS— SHOEING TO CORRECT SAME— THE MAKING 

 OF SPECIAL SHOES FOR GAITS. 



58. In shoeing horses for the purpose of confirming or altering 

 gaits, it must be remembered that there are almost a^ many varia- 

 tions in gaits as there are horses, and that methods which are suit- 

 able in one case may be unsatisfactory in another. There are cer- 

 tain imj^ortant principles which, properly applied, \\-ill be of 

 material assistance in gaiting the majority of horses. Shoeing alone 

 will not always accomplish the de-ired end, but it always helps. 

 To shoe a horse so that he will be properly balanced and will travel 

 squarely requires skill, patience, and careful use of special shoes. 

 ^Yhere weight is used, it is always best to start with a small amount 

 of weight and gradually increase it until the desired result is accom- 

 plished; otherwise injuries may result from overtaxed, strained, or 

 ruptured ligaments. 



When all four feet have been shod, the animal h taken out and 

 again examined on level ground at a walk, trot, and gallop. 



The horseshoer must bear in mind that seldom wdll shoeing alone 

 produce the de'^ired gait or action, but that much depends on proper 

 riding and on the physical condition of the horse. 



In all cases of shoeing to prevent injury to a leg or foot by another, 

 if, with careful riding, moderate correction methods in shoeing do 

 not accomplish the desired results, shoe normally and use boots to 

 protect pirts liable to injury. 



The use of boots or bandages will render IjIows of one foot against 

 another foot or leg painles-^, give the horse confidence, and ii the 

 blows are mild, with the use of boots they will only slightly affect 

 his gait. 



59. The gaits in the Army are the walk, the trot, and the gallop. 



THE WALK. 



60. At the walk the horse lifts one foot at a time, in diagonal 

 sequence, as, left front foot followed by right hind foot, and plants 

 them in the same order. 



