DR. LEGEAR'S STOCK BOOK. 249 



necessary, which are seldom afflicted with contraction, while 

 the strong foot is very prone to contraction, and needs consider- 

 able paring to prepare it for the shoe. After paring down to the 

 union of sole and wall, care must be taken to leave the foot a per- 

 fect level a dead level fore and aft and from side to side. A 

 foot may be perfectly level on the bottom and yet not be properly 

 balanced. That the angle of the wall varies in different horses 

 is a fact known to all liorseshoers. What that angle should 

 be must be determined by a lateral survey of the foot and limb, 

 so as to have the strain or weight equally divided. Step in front 

 or behind the animal and note if the limb tilts in or out. If it 

 does, the hoof is not level on the ground surface, and must be 

 made level and well balanced before the shoe is applied. If this 

 levelling and balancing can not be properly done with the eye 

 alone, a compass for the purpose may be of considerable service 

 in fitting the foot for the shoe. 



The object of the frog of the foot is to break concussion, and 

 when in a healthy state should never be touched with a knife, 

 except to pare away the ragged edges, etc. Prof. David Koberge 

 says: "My opinion is that when the dead level of the foot and its 

 perfect balance in all directions is fully understood and gen- 

 erally practiced, we shall hear of greater speed and capacity for 

 endurance among racing and trotting horses than we have yet 

 witnessed; that there will be physical and mental developments 

 in horses not dreamed of in the common philosophy; that lame- 

 ness will virtually become a reminiscence; horses will enjoy bet- 

 ter health and condition; people who own horses will have less 

 plagues and losses from such property, and as a consequence 

 more pleasure and gains; and though last in the list, not the least 

 important result will be a higher respect for horseshoeing as an 

 art for it must needs be through the instrumentality of im- 

 proved horseshoeing that these benefits can ever be brought 

 about." 



