SHOEING. 181 



practice of shoeing is the more extraordi- 

 iiary, as the very form, length, and texture of 

 the hoof will always afford sufficient infor- 

 mation in how great a de2:ree it will bear 

 reduction, with the additional consideration, 

 in point of effect, that shortening the toe, 

 will always proportionably xmden^ and give 

 strength to the heeL 



Horses said to be '' fleshy footed," are 

 those w^hose inner and outer sole are found 

 to be top large in proportion to tlie substance 

 ^f the hoof that surrounds them ; or, in 

 other words, to render \t as clear as pos- 

 sible) whose hoof is too thin at the lower 

 edge OF bottom, for the size of the whole. 

 This may be productive of inconvenience, 

 and requires a nicer discrimination in the 

 mode of forming the groove in the web, 

 as well as in fixing the shoe ; for the space 

 upon whi^h it must be unavoidably fixed 

 (without an alternjative) is so exceedingly 

 narrow that the greatest care 3-nd attention 

 is absolutely necessary to bring the nails so 

 near the edge of the hoof, as to avoid every 

 probable chance of injury by too great a 

 stricture upon the compo^ient parts ; a mat* 



