C 21 3 



Now II flat surface comes in contact with even 

 and hard ground in more points than any other, 

 and is therefore unquestionably the best : but to 

 prevent a horse from slipping in soft and hilly 

 •j-round, it is contended that the surface of the 

 shoe should be rough ; for hunting it has there- 

 fore been recommended that the lower surface be 

 grooved, or that it be divided into two parts. 



But the grooves soon fill up with dirt, and 

 then this surface becomes flat, with the disadvan- 

 tage of the shoe itself being weakened by the 

 grooves. 



And althouo'h when the surface is divided 



o 



into two parts, like that next the foot, it cer- 

 tainly does afford a steady and firm tread in soft 

 ground, yet the shoe is so much ^veakened by the 

 bevel on both sides as to be very liable to be 

 pressed against the sole ; and should a horse so 

 shod be ridden violently over stones or hard 

 crround, the shoe would soon be worn thin bv 

 the friction bein^ confined to the outer edo;e, and 

 would brealc or become wider. In either case 

 the nails would tear away with them the outer 

 edge of the crust, and thus expose the sensible 

 parts within the hoof to the risk of being injured 

 at the next shoeing ; and, at the same time, rob 

 the foot of a portion of its natural support. A 



