THE SHOEING OF HORSES. 3 



tempted to write, Do nothing, but simply secure the shoe well to 

 the foot in that state in which the organ in question may chance 

 at the time to present itself. As this, however, would be deemed 

 by the majority of readers as equivalent to saying nothing, we 

 shall endeavour to deal with the matter in the most satisfactory 

 manner we are able. The first object to be accomplished in pre- 

 paring a foot for re-shoeing is to remove the old shoes. The 

 manner of doing this is a matter respecting which much has been 

 said to the apparent disadvantage of the farrier. Youatt, and 

 other veterinary writers even of a more recent date, speak of the 

 removal of the old shoes from the feet as though our shoeing 

 smiths delighted in brutality, and in the infliction of pain to the 

 horse. 



The first act is, by the aid of the hammer and a small instru- 

 ment called the buflPer, to knock away the clenches ; after which 

 the operator, by means of his pincers properly applied to the 

 shoe — the sole of the foot forming the fulcrum, and the bow of 

 the pincers the lever — by a dexterous and easy twist of the 

 hand, removes the shoe and the nails at once. This, if done by a 

 skilled workman, is but the effort of a few moments, and can be 

 easily effected without either breaking the hoof or inflicting the 

 least pain on the animal — results so much dreaded by the above 

 author, and by others not practically acquainted with the art. 

 When the shoe is removed, the smith applies his rasp briskly but 

 lightly to the foot, for the purpose of removing all chips of horn 

 or decayed portions of the wall ; having done which, the foot is 

 ready for paring. Here we enter at once into the heart of the 



