Preface vii 



is there a wish to belittle the judgment of intelligent horseshoers; 

 for these there will be enough to do in spite of all knowledge of faulty 

 action. 



Far from overestimating my knowledge of shoeing, I beg to leave 

 the importance of proper shoes for special needs to the intelligent men 

 at the forge, who should understand the anatomy of the foot as well as 

 they know how to turn and apply a sensible shoe. There is no patent 

 on this method. Anybody with a little ability to figure and with a 

 little accuracy and patience can work out the necessary data. Special 

 note books for that purpose may be had from the author. 



This book is the result of much time and labor, just as other 

 duties would allow and opportunities offered themselves ; but during the 

 long years of his investigations, the writer was always guided by the 

 principle that authority and tradition, though good as a basis, should 

 not be looked upon as being free from grievous error. It is a human 

 habit to follow tradition and routine as the safest and quickest way out 

 of difficulties and to yield to the undefinable attraction or mystery of 

 luck. An open-minded inquiry directed solely and without prejudice 

 towards the establishment of facts led to the investigations here offered. 

 As reasonable and plausible as the assertions of Roberge appeared to 

 be, his theory of pointing lacked proof as regards animals in motion. 

 These assertions were likewise subjected to continued tests by this 

 method until they were shown to be either entirely true or partly true. 



At bottom, however, of these very facts there is at all times the 

 great beauty of animal motion in which every lover of the horse de- 

 lights. To convey this to the mind, when the eye cannot actually see it, 

 is the mission of the true artist. I have, therefore, given as the very 

 first illustration, a copy of a picture of a three-year-old colt, bred and 

 at one time owned by me, which was painted by our well-known artist, 

 H. W. Hansen. His watercolors of horses in motion are everywhere 

 recognized for their exquisite coloring and excellent outline and depth. 

 The half-tone reproduction does not quite come up to the original in 

 color effect, but the expression and attitude of the animal are worth 

 noting. 



Without the advice and assistance of others I would not now be 



