FLAT OR CONVEXED SOLES. 579 



sequences in two ways, Firstly, By treating horses and 

 their feet in a way the reverse of correct ; Secondly, By being 

 put off their guard, men have neither appreciated nor 

 sought to learn that which is indispensable to the successful 

 management of the animal. 



The common agents in the deteriorating process are, 

 excessive moisture to the foot, unduly diminishing the sub- 

 stance of the hoof, and shoes applied without system ; and 

 since there is but one right, and an infinity of wrong ways 

 of performing the operation of shoeing, there are many 

 chances to one against this latter part ever being done as 

 required. 



Whatever be the relative merits of shoers, the process 

 will be greatly influenced by the general state in which the 

 horse's feet are kept ; if firm in texture, and under healthy 

 influences, the power to resist unwelcome pressure will 

 be the greater ; when, however, various bad influences are 

 combined, the evil results follow soon and more certainly. 



FLAT OR CONVEXED SOLES. 



A very similar series of causes, which give rise to the 

 before-described condition, tend also to produce a flattened 

 state of the foot. Breeding, form, action, and weight of the 

 animal, influence the different changes ; while the sustain- 

 ing capabilities of the hoof, and its inherent conservant 

 property of maintaining the symmetrical figure, are depen- 

 dent on the same hygienic conditions as are required for 

 its first development. All weakening measures tend to 

 alter the physical state of the sole. Softening, paring, and 

 rasping the hoof, want of knowledge, or care, in shoeing, 

 and insufficient exercise, all induce debility, and constitute 

 causes tending to the general bad effect on the whole foot. 



