486 CHA.PTER 63. 



If he succeeds in doiii<j: so, pull up the leg ji<^aiii immediately. Never let 

 his foot rest on tlie ground for a moment. It will probably require three 

 or four men at the rope to prevent his getting his foot down. But in 

 time, in half an hour or more, he will be tired, and glad to rest his leg 

 on the farrier Avho comes to shoe him. 



It will be observed that in this mode of treatment the horse is com- 

 paratively free. There is nothing in it to alarm him or make him 

 nervous, or more difficult to shoe on any succeeding occasion. My ex- 

 perience has been that horses so treated in time get over their dislike of 

 being shod. The contrary is the case where side lines, violence, or cast- 

 ing are resorted to. I admit that there may be horses more vicious than 

 I happen to have met with, and perhaps it may be necessary to cast such 

 animals. 



For horses difficult to shoe on the fore-feet, I recommend strapping up 

 the fore-leg with a " Karey " strap for a few hours. At the end of tliat 

 time the chances are that the horse will be glad enough to lean on the 

 farrier who comes to shoe him. 



Aiiothcr very simple mode is often very effectual. Give the horse a 

 very long and very hard day's work, and shoe him immediately on his 

 return. The chances are that he will stand quiet. 



991. Temporary Roughing. 



The old plan of roughing, though it gives a good foothold, is open to 

 some serious objections, namely, 1st, that it entails removal of the shoes 

 and re-nailing; 2nd, that the roughing soon wears smooth, and if the; 

 frost continues, the shoes must again be taken off, re-roughed, and nailed 

 on again, this of course damages the hoofs ; 3rd, that this plan cannot 

 be carried on without the services of a farrier. 



Another and better jilan is to make 2 screw-holes in each shoe— not 

 when a frost comes, but in all shoes put on after 1st October. It takes 

 very little time or trouble to make the holes with a proper tool; and 

 Avhen a frost occurs, the screws can be put in without trouble and without 

 the services of a farrier. No injury is done to the foot, and the screws 

 can be withdrawn and renewed as often as necessary. This plan answers 

 very well with harness horses. N.B. — Screws can be used on both sides 

 of the feet, but on the outer side of the hind shoes, for fear of tread, 

 where somewhat heavy shoes are used, which will carry a screw with a 

 strong worm ; but it does not answer so well with light shoes. 



The third plan is that known as the cabman's nail. It has been in 

 use in London for a good many years, and it certainly answers as an 

 antidote to slipping. But it has a serious defect. The shoe must be 

 considerably wider at the heels than the crust. On this projection a hole 

 is punched perpendicularly, through which a nail with a special large 

 head is driven, and the shank is battened down on the outside. Th<! 

 hoof is not penetrated by the nail — and therefore the nail can be re- 

 moved and replaced as soon as its head is worn down, without injury to 

 the hoof. So far good. But the extra width of the shoes at the heels is 



