108 SHOEING. 



cut away the horn, till, by the strong pressure of 

 your own or the Nolband's thumb, you can feel 

 the sole bend up towards the corners, as well 

 as the fore-part : this is the guide for all feet 

 worth the expense of shoeing. If more is cut 

 away, the horse will be tender, perhaps lamed : 

 if less is taken off, he will require shoeing again 

 in a fortnight. When the foot is not softened 

 before going to the Nolband's, either by cow-dung 

 stopping for the two previous days, or by being 

 soaked in water two or three hours before shoe- 

 ing, or by cloths wrapped round the coronet, and 

 warm water poured on them for that time, a great 

 deal too much horn may be cut away before the 

 sole will yield. A fine flaky foot will often show 

 of itself the proper quantity to be taken off ; but 

 others again would suffer ; besides, the hoof being 

 moistened, adds to the nails taking firm hold, and 

 prevents the horn splintering ; the foot, moreover, 

 is shod in half the time, and the Nolband saved 

 from a gash in his arm. The horn between the 

 bars and the crust having been cut away with the 

 drawing-knife, a full sixth of an inch of depth 

 must be left up in the corner where the bar and 

 crust join. Never cut away the horn between 

 the bar * and the frog, but cut away a little of the 



* For mercy's sake ! learn where the bars are, for the manner 

 in which EngUsh farriers, as well as Nolbands, cut them away at 



