SHOEING. 75 



than if it had been neglected or injudiciously dealt 

 with. 



SHOEING. 



It would be foreign to my present pui-pose to enter at 

 any length on the question of shoeing, but I think it 

 advisable to make a few observations on one or two 

 points. 



The operation of shoeing should be performed every 

 third or fourth week, according as the hoof may be 

 active in its growth, or othei'wise. If the gTowth of 

 horn is extremely rapid, the heels will require to be 

 lowered, and the toes shortened, at the end of three 

 weeks ; but if it is slow, the shoes should not be 

 changed before the end of the fourth week. Unless 

 there is some very special reason for it, however, they 

 must never be permitted to remain on longer than this. 

 I am quite certain many horses have the shape of their 

 feet completely spoiled by wearing their shoes beyond 

 the proper period for removing them. This they are 

 allowed to do by way of economy, but it is an ill-timed 

 attempt at saving. 



I have a great objection to what is called removing 

 the shoes. It is far better to have a new set than to 

 re-apply the old ones. It is impossible to re-adjust 

 the old shoes to the feet with sufficient accuracy, without 

 taking nearly as much trouble as would suffice for the 

 making of a new set. Hence it will be found that 



