THE SHOEING OF HOESES. 23 



completeness of the matter may be at once known by the perfect 

 fit and the perfectly easy appearance of the adaptation of the foot 

 and the shoe to each other. 



To curve the foot and the shoe properly requires practice ; 

 but care and a right appreciation of the subject on the part of the 

 smith will speedily give confidence, and that degree of skill neces- 

 sary to its right performance. Plate VIII., Figure i represents 

 the ground surface of the shoe, upon which is shown the necessary 

 degree of curve at the toe. Figure 2 represents a front view of 

 the foot, with the appearance of the shoe curved as directed, when 

 the foot is upon the ground. It is not always practicable for the 

 farrier thus to curve every fore foot. Feet that are flat, weak, and 

 thin at the wall and the sole, cannot, as a rule, be so prepared. All 

 other conditions of the foot, however, will admit of the practice. 

 The curving of the foot and the shoe, and the proper adaptation of 

 the two to each other, are perhaps, of all other operations connected 

 with the art of shoeing, of the greatest importance with reference 

 to the well-being of the foot and the usefulness of the animal. 



Shoeing the Hind Feet. — The processes necessary to be under- 

 gone in properly shoeing the hind feet do not differ essentially 

 from those already stated with reference to the fore feet. Still, 

 there are peculiarities connected with the hind feet which require 

 a certain degree of special consideration. 



The great care and skill required rightly to shoe the fore feet 

 are not so absolutely called for in shoeing the hind ones. In the 

 first place, the hind feet, in the act of locomotion, are placed some- 

 what differently upon the ground ; they have not the weight to 



