Common Diseases of the Horse 245 



either the over-lowering of the wall and cutting away the sole, or 

 the application of an unevenly -fitting shoe. The sole requires 

 little preparation, and only the loose, overgrown parts should be 

 removed. The paring-out and hollowing that so frequently takes 

 place should never be allowed; it weakens the hoof generally and 

 allows a tendency of the walls being forced apart. 



A little special attention is necessary to ensure that the small 

 portion bearing upon the shoe is perfectly level with the wall, and 

 that sufficient horn is removed in the angle between the wall and 

 bars so that it will not touch the shoe, otherwise corns will soon 

 result. The bars need only to be made level with the wall of the 

 heel ; on no account should they be cut away or reduced, as is fre- 

 quently done to give what is called an open appearance to the foot, 

 and so make the heels appear unduly wide. It is one of the worst 

 evils of shoeing and a common cause of contracted foot. The frog 

 must not be touched, as it will have been reduced to its natural 

 proportions by wear. When finished and ready for the shoe, all the 

 parts enumerated should have a perfectly level bearing surface; 

 each side of the foot should be exactly the same height, and the 

 toe and heel in such proportion as to ensure a natural position to 

 the limb. 



The Shoe 



Space forbids a long discussion on the different kinds of shoes 

 and the various methods of application ; a volume might easily be 

 written upon the subject. The present article simply deals with 

 the broad principles which are to be adopted. 



The first consideration, as conducive to the wellbeing of the horse 

 and the prevention of disease, is to make the shoe fit the foot 

 which has been prepared in the manner already described, and not as 

 is often done, viz. making a shoe and then rasping or cutting away 

 any parts of the hoof which overlap until it fits the shoe. The 

 prepared weight-bearing portion of the foot in ordinary working 

 horses, carriage horses, and hunters, varies from half to three- 

 quarters of an inch in width, tapering a little as it approaches the 

 heels. The foot surface of the shoe must be at least of an equal 

 width, and take a perfectly level bearing throughout. If, on account 

 of prominent or convex soles, more protection, or " cover " as it is 

 called, is desired, a wider shoe may be necessary, and in this case 

 it is bevelled out and made saucer-shaped on the upper surface. 

 This is a seated shoe, but in no case should the bevelling begin 

 until all the surface of the foot capable of bearing weight has been 

 made use of. 



