250 DR. LEGEAR'S STOCK BOOK. 



THE SHOE. 



The shoe will depend somewhat upon the weight and size of 

 the animal and the nature of the work he has to perform. Draft 

 horses, of course, usually require heavy shoes with calks attached, 

 while driving horses need only light plates. In all cases, make 

 the shoes as light as the nature of the animal's work will admit 

 of. The only mission of the shoe is to prevent undue wear of the 

 walls, and a light one will do this quite as well as a heavy one; 

 it is erroneous to think that a heavy shoe in all cases will wear 

 longer than a light one. This is even true with reference to our 

 heavy draft horses. Let the shoe be of good length, perfectly 

 level on the bearing surface to correspond to the prepared foot, 

 and of a weight to suit the animal; as horses of same size require 

 shoes of different weight. The fore shoes may vary in weight 

 from ten to twenty ounces; the hind ones from eight to twelve 

 ounces, according to the size and requirements of the animal. In 

 cases of deformity, lameness,, etc., good results are obtainable 

 from mechanical means, but all such cases should be under the 

 supervision of a qualified veterinary surgeon. In France expan- 

 sion of the hoof by mechanical means (Fig. 48, p. 230) is advo- 

 cated and practiced more than anywhere else. They are bene- 

 ficial., no doubt, in many cases of contracted feet, but there is a 

 far more simple,, safe, and effective means of attaining that end, 

 explained in the treatment for contraction. 



It would seem unnecessary to say that the shoe should be so 

 shaped as to fit the foot, and not the foot to fit the shoe, as is 

 so generally practiced. Of course it is much easier to make the 

 foot to fit the shoe than it is to make the shoe to fit the foot, but 

 such an excuse is a lazy one on the part of the shoer. The rasp 

 should never be used on the outside of the wall, as by doing so 

 you remove the crust which forms a protection to the hoof. If 

 the shoe is properly fitted, a touch of the rasp under each clinch 



