28 THE SHOEING OF HORSES. 



would appear to advocate the use of eight nails, as each shoe of 

 this kind contains eight nail holes. The shoe in question, in spite 

 of all the advocacy of late bestowed upon it, must sooner or later 

 disappear from every establishment which may have used it : it 

 cannot, therefore, be taken as a criterion of the number of nails 

 best to use. The rule is to use as few nails to each shoe as 

 possible ; and it is surprising, if the foot be a good one and the 

 shoe accurately fitted, how few nails will suffice. Much, therefore, 

 depends upon the goodness of the wall, the tenacity of the nail, 

 and the accuracy of the fit. 



In determining this question, a great difference also exists in 

 horses as to the amount of wear and tear which the limbs and shoes 

 undergo. Where the feet are put down unevenly or violently, or 

 when the wearing of the shoe is greatest at one particular part, 

 such as the outside quarter of the foot or at the toe, or upon the 

 inside quarter, the nails in these cases have unequal force to sus- 

 tain, and possibly more nails as a rule are required, and the shoes 

 more frequent attention. Heavy draught horses require more 

 nails to each shoe than are required for the shoes of lighter bred 

 horses. 



One great essential, we may again repeat, towards a shoe 

 being well retained to the foot, is accuracy of fit. It matters 



observed ought to be called the "Badenough Horse Shoe." The "Goodenough" shoe does not 

 differ in any respect from an ordinary one, save in this : it presents upon its ground surface five 

 cogs, or small iron prominences or lumps, which, for a short time (so long as thgse cogs or lumps 

 remain free from wear), aid in the prevention of slipping ; but when these cogs are worn, the shoe is 

 simply an ordinary one. The shoe is perfectly level from toe to heel, and it is highly objection- 

 able on this account. If curved at the toe, and the cog at this part removed, the shoe in question 

 would be greatly improved. 



