S or SHOEING. 469 



it is somewhat squared off by the wearing away of the toes. Again the 

 circular form is less perfect on the inner than on the outer side, because 

 the crust is thinner on the inside than on the outside, and more upright 

 (fig. 6). 



Two advantages are gained by the diminution of the thickness of the 

 crust on the inside, and by its uprightness. 1st, the chance of interfer- 

 ence of one foot with the other is lessened ; 2nd, greater elasticity is 

 afforded. Greater elasticity is required on the inside than on the outside, 

 in order to obviate the greater concussion which, as is well known, falls 

 on the inside. Greater concussion falls on the inside because greater 

 weight falls on it than on the outside. It may perhaps seem strange to 

 the reader that less thickness of crust should be given on that side on 

 which the greater weight falls. But a similar formation with a similar 

 view, namely, elasticity and the lessening thereby of concussion, is found 

 throughout on the inside of the limb up to the knee. 



In considering, however, the strength required on the inside, it is im- 

 portant to bear in mind three points. 1st. Although greater weight 

 falls on the inside, yet it falls more perpendicularly than it does on the 

 outside ; and the two inside crusts are more directly under the centre of 

 gravity than the two outside crusts. 2nd. The two inside crusts are 

 nearer each other than the two outside crusts, and therefore each requires 

 less strength a principle well known to all builders. 3rd. The fibres 

 of the crusts on the inside are more perpendicular than those .of the 

 outside, and are thereby better placed for sustaining weight. 



The crust is placed by nature on the outer edge of the circle of the 

 foot, because in that position it affords the greatest circumference for 

 sustaining weight. The shoes will be found to be most worn on their 

 outer circumference, because they there rest on the portion of the crust 

 best adapted for sustaining weight. 



955. Size of Feet. 



Feet of a medium size, in proportion to the size and breed of the 

 horse, are the best. In large feet the horn is generally of a coarse 

 inferior quality, deficient in toughness and strength, and slow in growth. 

 In small feet the horn is generally tough and sound, though sometimes 

 it may be brittle. Small feet, if equally so all round are, as a rule, 

 preferable to wide spreading feet. Small feet, when of a natural forma- 

 tion, are easily distinguished from contracted feet by the fact that they 

 are correspondingly small all round. Contraction rarely, if ever, affects 

 all the feet, and never affects all the feet equally. One foot smaller than 

 another is rarely, if ever, a natural formation. 



Small feet are common in the well-bred horse, who is a native of dry, 

 sandy plains, whilst the under-bred horse, living in low wet pastures artd 

 fed on succulent diet, has a tendency to large coarse feet. 



956. Feet to be pairs. 



Whether feet are large, medium, or small, it is essential that they 

 should be pairs. Any difference in size between the two fore-feet or 



