158 SHOEING. 



an opinion that the farriers themselves, a 

 very inferior proportion excepted, seem to 

 have imbibed no additional knowledge in 

 equestrian anatomy, from studies so laudably 

 exerted and clearly explained. 



We come next to an explanation of the 

 different kinds of feet, as they appear in dif- 

 ferent subjects in their natural state. These 

 jnay be defined under three distinct heads : 

 the short, sound, black, substantial hoof; the 

 shallow, long, weak, xvhite brittle hoof ; and 

 the deep, lax, porous, spongy hoof. Of these 

 the first is so evidently superior, that, unless 

 by improper or unfair treatment, it hardly 

 ever becomes the subject of disease. The next 

 is carefully to be avoided in the purchase if 

 possible, not only on account of their being 

 more subject to corns than any other, but in- 

 dicative, in a great degree, of constitutional 

 delicacy in either horse or mare, they not 

 being so well enabled to bear hard work or 

 constant fatigue. The last of the three is so 

 equally inferior to the first, that from a variety 

 of causes it is frequently productive of inces- 

 sant attention, anxiety, disease and lameness. 



