78 MANUAL FOR ARMY HORSESHOERS. 



Remedies. — If the fault is in the shoeing or in the preparation 

 of the foot, the remedy in either case is apparent. If the horse 

 continues to interfere after the bearing surface has been leveled 

 and the foot properly shod, different careful experiments must be 

 made, because tests show that there is no fixed rule. A shoe that 

 will be of benefit in one case may be just the reverse in another. 



In general, prepare and shoe the foot in such a way that the 

 breaking over will l^e at tlie center of the toe. As much, if not 

 more, is accomplished by skillful preparation of the feet than by 

 the use of extraordinary shoes. 



If the foot breaks over on the inside of the toe an angular extension 

 (about I inch; see PI. XXI) on the inside toe will be beneficial. 

 When the shoe is in place, the part projecting beyond the wall 

 should not exceed that outside the white line on shoe in plate. 

 The extension is made by thinning and widening the web of the 

 shoe at the desired point. Fit the shoe close on outside from center 

 of toe to quarter, and roll outside toe with the rasp, full on the 

 inside from toe to second nail hole, and close from there back, 

 sharp edges on the inside being hot rasped to avoid cutting. 



Ordinarily the lightest part of the foot, especially of the front 

 foot, is lifted first. For this reason a side weight (PI. XX, fig. 3) 

 on the inside of the fore foot will often aid in correcting interfering. 

 As previously stated, this will not always produce the desired 

 result. On account of differences in pastern action, the result may 

 even be obtained by just the opposite— the Aveight on the outside. 



The foot may be prepared with the inside high (broken out) in 

 order to cause the foot to break over the outside the ^oe and to 

 increase the clearance space. 



A small side calk may be placed on the inside of the inner half 

 of the shoe immediately under the part of the hoof that strikes. 

 The calk should conform to the curve of the shoe. (PI. XIX, fig. 4.) 

 The heel of the shoe should be thickened to correspond to the height 

 of the calk. 



It must be understood that improper preparation of the foot and the 

 use of a side calk are extreme measures. They throw the foot into 

 an unnatural and strained position, and therefore should not be used 

 unless this discomfort is to be preferred to severe cutting of the legs. 

 As the fault of interfering disappears a return to normal conditions 

 must be accomplished. 



