32 HORSES AND ROADS. 



is discovered. But in the forge, the application of 

 such facts is by most smiths utterly ignored/ We 

 may add that to most owners its existence is utterly 

 unknown in the beginning, as, when the shoe is on, 

 its first appearance is not to be detected, for of 

 course the iron covers and hides it. It can only be 

 discovered by paring or rasping the bottom of the 

 hoof, when the shoe is off, at the toe or quarter ; the 

 toe is where it is most frequently to be found. 



Over nearly all country forges it is stated that 

 ' shoeing is done here upon improved principles.' 

 Now, these so-called ' improvements ' consist of 

 mistaken theories which were conceived many years 

 ago. They were then considered to be improve- 

 ments by their authors, and were most likely only 

 received as such because there was a great deal of 

 show about cutting, carving, and paring the under 

 surface of the horse's foot. This was impressive for 

 the vulgar and ignorant, because there was some 

 mystery attached to it; so it became very popular 

 amongst them, and it remains so, to a certain extent, 

 up to the present time, although all modern professional 

 authorities have exerted themselves to explain the 

 immense evils attendant on everything pertaining to 

 the system. The owner, therefore, who should make 

 up his mind to see his horses shod, must not allow 

 himself to be impressed with the idea that the 

 smith is an adept operator, endowed with a know- 

 ledge of anatomy and physiology ; for he is always 

 giving striking proofs that he knows nothing of 

 either. He can see the outside of the foot; but 



