THE CONCAVE-SEATED SHOE. 423 



their heads project but a little way, and are soon worn down level with the 

 shoe. The ground surface of the common shoe used in, the country is somewhat 

 convex, and the inner rim of the shoe comes first on the ground : the conse- 

 quence of this is, that the weight, instead of being borne fairly on the crust, is 

 supported by the nails and clenches, which must be injurious to the foot, and 

 often chip and break it. 



The web of this shoe is of the same thickness throughout, from the toe to 

 the heel ; and it is sufficiently wide to guard the sole from bruises, and, as much 

 so as the frog will permit, to cover the seat of corn. 



On the foot side it is seated. The outer part of it is accurately flat, and of 

 the width of the crust, and designed to support the crust, for by it the whole 

 weight of the horse is sustained. 



Towards the heel this flattened part is wider and occupies the whole 

 breadth of the web, in order to support the heel of the crust and its 

 reflected part the bar : thus, while it defends the horn included within this 

 angle from injury, it gives that equal pressure upon the bar and the crust, which 

 is the best preventive against corns, and a powerful obstacle to contraction. 



It is fastened to the foot by nine nails five on the outside, and four on the 

 inner side of the shoe ; those on the outside extending a little farther down 

 towards the heel, because the outside heel is thicker and stronger, and there is 

 more nail- hold ; the last nail on the inner quarter being farther from the heel 

 on account of the weakness of that quarter. For feet not too large, and where 

 moderate work only is required from the horse, four nails on the outside, and 

 three on the inside, will be sufficient ; and the last nail being far from the heels, 

 will allow more expansion there. 



The inside part of the web is bevelled off, or rendered concave, that it may 

 not press upon the sole. Notwithstanding our iron fetter, the sole does, although 

 to a very inconsiderable extent, descend when the foot of the horse is put on 

 the ground. It is unable to bear constant or even occasional pressure, and if it 

 came in contact with the shoe, the sensible sole between it and the coffin-bone 

 would be braised, and lameness would ensue. Many of our horses, from too 

 early and undue work, have the natural concave sole flattened, and the disposi- 



