146 SHOEING, 



Ihoeing beft adapted to the foot and aftion 

 of his own horfe. I never confidered it at 

 all neceflary that a gentleman, fportfman, 

 tradefman, or traveller, is to commence 

 blackfmith in theory, and go through the 

 rudiments of the trade to promote his inten- 

 tion; that has hitherto been the fyftematic 

 mode of tuition : but when it is conlidered 

 how very few will enter a wide field of 

 abftrufe ftudy, to comprehend what lie is told 

 is a proper mxthod oi Jkoeing his horfe ^ it can 

 create no furprife that it has been attended 

 with fo little fuccefs. 



My conception of the neceflary know- 

 ledge is unequivocally this : although every 

 Smith in profeflional etiquette may be 

 deemed an artijl, I defy the force of logic 

 itfelf to render every artift a conjurer ; and 

 as there muft inevitably remain among the 

 collateral defcendants from Vulcan (as in 

 moft other profeflions) fome prodigies of 

 brightncfs^ who, incapable of diftinguifliing 

 right from wrong, fljoe one horfe as they fJooe 

 another^ or, in plainer Englifh, Jhoe all alike ; 

 fuch difcrimination becomes palpably ufeful, 

 as will enable the owners to give condi, 



tional 



