566 ART OF SHOEING. 



relative merits when compared with others, I now see that 

 the explanation why this shoe is the best that can be devised 

 there, and not applicable for common use here, is easy. 

 The thin plate of iron hammered into form, for the most 

 part when the iron is cold, and which is made to cover 



fig. 233. Oriental Shoe. 



almost the whole of the bottom surface of the foot, is admi- 

 rably adapted to the movements of the foot; with this the 

 horse treads on the loose shifting sand, and with the shoe 

 finds purchase, whilst any of the shoes in use amongst us 

 would sink into the sand, the horse would slip, and more 

 exertion would be required, and less speed attained. 



I look on it that the Arab horse with the customary shoe- 

 ing adopted in that country, would have the same advantage 

 over another horse shod on our method, as horses would have, 

 in drawing a sledge over the snow-covered plains of Kussia, 

 over others drawing a common wheel carriage. 



The French method, as the best system established, is, 

 we consider, a rational reduction or adaptation of that just 

 noticed. Our Gallic neighbours of old adopted all that the 

 Arabs did as regards the adjustment of the shoe to the foot, 

 whilst the modern open parallel French shoe, which admits a 

 bearing of the wall of the hoof over its whole circumference, 

 leaving the concave sole and resilient frog free, is prefer- 



