190 



HORSEMAXSHIP. 



must be taken, especially on the first occasion of shoeing on 

 this system, that the groove is made a trifle shallower than- 

 the thickness of the shoe. The web of the shoe also must 

 be slightly narrower than the thickness of the wall of the 

 crust, which varies from half an inch to less, stopping short 

 at that light coloured band of softer horn passing round 



between the sole and 

 the wall, and which 

 marks their junction. 

 ?^Iy firm opinion is 

 that no part of the 

 sole of the foot 

 should be in con- 

 tinuous contact witli 

 the shoe, its natural 

 slight concavity and 

 elasticity forbid any 

 such permanent 

 pressure. Many argue to the contrary, and point to the 

 flat plate of the Arab, covering and bringing equal pres- 

 sure to bear on the whole of the ground surface of the 

 foot — in fact, a thin sheet of iron interposed between the 

 bottom of the foot and the ground — as supporting this con- 

 tention. But, tough and sound as the foot of the Arab's 

 horse, I decline, save in respect of his system of nailing, to 

 accept the Bedaween's teaching. The foot, when prepared 

 to receive the shoe, presents the appearance given below. 



The necessary form is given to the shoe that it may exactly 

 follow the outer edge of the hoof as far as the beginning of 

 the bars, where it is thinned or sloped off in order that the 

 heel and broadest part of the frog may come well on to the 

 ground. If the sole be strong and concave, the heels high, 

 and the crust thick, the shoe is buried entirely in the channel 



