78 THE HORSE. 



sure. When it is thin by nature, or is made so by the 

 knife, the horse will go very tender on broken stones, 

 and will probably drop suddenly, in consequence of the 

 pgin he feels in the foot. The sole should be left as 

 thick as is consistent with saving it from pressing 

 against the shoe. 



It is not generally necessary to take much off the 

 frog. It should not be pared very close, nor yet left 

 too large. Either extreme is objectionable. 



When the toes are disposed to grow long, and the 

 heels deep, they ought both to be well pared. If this 

 is attended to, the foot will preserve its proportions re- 

 markably well. Besides, a very long toe is uncom- 

 fortable and unsafe. Walking over it will fatigue the 

 horse ; and if the toe is not lifted high, the ani- 

 mal will be likely to strike it against the stones on 

 the road. The heel should be lowered to a reasonable 

 extent, but the paring must be confined entu-ely to the 

 ground-surface. The crust at the back of the heel, and 

 at the edges of the frog, should not be touched with 

 the knife. " Opening the heel," as it is called, is most 

 pernicious. The part of the crust which turns round 

 towai-ds the bars, and the bars themselves, should not 

 on any account be weakened. These parts are intended 

 to be firm, soHd, and unyielding, and therefore they 

 ought to be kept as strong as possible. As corns are 

 produced by the pressure of the shoe on the sole, the 

 smith must be careful not to weaken the bars or the 



