Experiments and their Verification 231 



Figs. 173 and 176 is nearly the same in detail, except in angle of off 

 fore, in weight on near side, and in shape of hind shoes as well as 

 greater length of near hind in Fig. 173 or the previous shoeing. The 

 separation of fore from hind feet, or the average distance between 

 them, is greater in the last shoeing (3.73 ft.) by 4.8 in. over that of 



Fig. 173 (3-33 ft.) 



The stride in each trial was about the same: 14.27 ft. and 

 14.23 ft., but the variations of both the fore and the hind legs from 

 these average strides were much smaller in scope, or more regular, in 

 the second trial (Fig. 176), and the reason for this greater regularity 

 seems to lie in the fact that both the near fore and the off hind 

 had squared toes, as in Fig. 172. This caused the higher action and 

 the somewhat lesser extension of these two feet. Now, we find, in 

 comparing the differences of the separations between the feet which 

 move together, that in Fig. 176 these are both greater than in Fig. 

 173 ; that is to say, the near fore and the off hind are separated 

 more by 0.38 ft. (3.26 2.88) or 4.56 in., and the off fore and the near 

 hind are separated more by 0.42 ft. (4.20 3.78) or 5.04 in. The sum 

 total of these differences divided by 2 gives us 0.4 ft. or 4.8 in. as 

 the difference between the average distances in both cases (3.73 3-33)- 



The main reason for this greater separation is undoubtedly due 

 to the different adjustments on the near hind foot in these two 

 trials. Its shoe in Fig. 173 is set full at the toe and has swelled heels, 

 while in Fig. 176 it is set even at the toe and has flat heels. Besides, 

 the near hind foot in Fig. 173 is longer than in Fig. 176. All of 

 these conditions would favor a greater forward extension of near 

 hind in Fig. 173. My contention has always been that the influence 

 of one such different adjustment on one foot will often cause an 

 entire change of extension or of gait. Swelled heels without calks 

 have their drawbacks, inasmuch as they are apt to slide and thereby 

 increase the time of contact with the ground, which hinders the 

 horse from having prompt and free movements. Again, they are 

 also apt to increase the forward extension when used in conjunction 

 with the squared toe. When the swelled heels are short, they are also 

 aided in this forward extension by the somewhat easier break-over, 



