546 ART OF SHOEING. 



making the bearing surface of the foot hollow or flat, whereas 

 it should possess a fulness appearing somewhat round, as the 

 eye glances down from heel to toe when the foot is held in the 

 hand, by which depth is preserved across the centre or quar- 

 ters, and this is in comformity with the foot's natural struc- 

 ture, and with the normal wear of the* hoof when unshod, 

 and it is, moreover, found successful in practice. 



In the preparation of the foot we meet with extremes 

 in every conceivable form; sometimes the hoof is scarce 

 through previous reduction, at others excessive accumulation 

 of horn is found; and though the sole and frog exfoliate when 

 the foot is in its natural and unshod state, when duly exer- 

 cised on the ground, and also when properly shod, yet, if we 

 reverse these conditions, the hoof increases in length and 

 depth, and the sole and frog become imprisoned, as the wall 

 grows and tilts over upon itself; in these cases, as a matter 

 of course, the light touches we prescribe will not suffice ; 

 still the same rule serves to guide. The depth of the wall 

 being adjusted, unduly thickened sole will be set free, as will 

 also any morbid growth of the horny frog ; and these detach- 

 ing superfluous parts, being incumbrances, must necessarily 

 be removed. The continental workman finds over us an 

 advantage in preparing the foot, by using his buttress an 

 instrument discarded in England when the drawing-knife 

 was made to replace it. There is an important rule to be 

 observed in preparing the foot, which consists, instead of re- 

 ducing its depth to excess, as in the ordinary way happens, the 

 foot should be taken forwards on the knee, and the edge filed 

 round the toe ; this, however, with some exceptions where 

 there is excess of hoof, will only bear to be done with a fine 

 rasp or file, nor should there be any deep notch cut in the 

 toe, as is usually done, to let up the clip, the entire strength 

 of the wall should be maintained, it being the part which 



