CHAPTER VII. 



THE ANGLE AND LENGTH OF FOOT. 



One of the main troubles of balancing a horse in motion lies in 

 the ever growing hoof. Besides, the natural or rather often unnat- 

 ural shape of it is in itself always an obstacle to success. The shoe 

 can in a measure remedy the deficiencies, as has already been indi- 

 cated, when a difference in size or shape between the fore feet or 

 the hind feet appears. One of the most important and simple con- 

 ditions of a good gait is a good foot on each leg and a close similarity, 

 if not an exact equality, between the two fore and the two hind 

 hoofs. 



During the various investigations given it was necessary to take 

 for granted that the reader was familiar with David Roberge's theory 

 of pointing. 



It will hardly be necessary to recall the various instances where 

 the angle and the length of the foot were effective in producing the re- 

 quired extension or its check, but we shall look into other cases 

 nevertheless. From the lengthwise section of the foot, as given in 

 Fig. 182, as well as from a few further illustrations, the reader may 

 gather the importance of the apparently small details connected with 

 the paring and trimming of the hoof. One lick of the rasp more or 

 less can disturb the equilibrium of the foot or direct it as it should 

 point to remedy a faulty motion. All this delicate work is largely 

 dependent on the unquestioned skill of our intelligent farriers, who 

 have made a study of this matter. 



It is in their hands, too, that a defective foot can be assisted by a 

 shoe furnishing certain compensations required. I am not as anxious 

 to advise these skilful mechanics as I am to give them indirectly a 

 method whereby they can more readily understand what is wanted of 



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