IIORSE-SIiOEING. 



101 



against tlie shanks of the nails, and cause pain to the 

 horse at every step he takes. The whole number of 

 the nail-holes should never exceed five ; three on the 

 outside, and two on the inside. 



Having cut off the heels and opened the nail-holes, 

 you must next turn up a clip at the toe ; every shoe 

 should have one at the toe, it keeps the shoe steady, 

 and prevents its being forced back; but you should 

 never put one at the side. 



Fitting the Shoe. 



You must bear in mind, that "fitting the shoe" 

 means fitting the shoe to the foot, and not fitting the 

 foot to the shoe, as is too often done in many forges. 



It is a bad plan to try to fit the whole of the shoe at 

 once ; it is much better, and saves a great deal of trou- 

 ble, to fit the toe first, then the quarters, and lastly the 

 heels ; but, before you begin to fit the toe, take a look 

 at the old shoe, and see how much of the toe of it is 

 worn away; because just so much of the new shoe 

 should be turned up from the ground, to remove it out 

 of the line of wear. A new shoe, turned up at the toe, 

 is the same thing to the horse as an old one worn down, 

 but with this great difference to his comfort, that he 

 is easy upon the new one, from the time it is first put 

 on, whereas he was never easy upon the old one, until 

 he had worn away the toe. A strong foot will bear 

 the toe to be turned up a good deal ; but a flat foot is 

 always weak at the toe, and will not l)ear much, still 

 6* 



