246 Common Diseases of the Horse 



The length should be at least the length of the wall. The hind 

 shoes are often made considerably longer, particularly in show and 

 town horses, and in many cases the fore shoes also. It is con- 

 sidered to develop the growth of the heels, and also prevent their 

 being weakened by the shoeing smith cutting them down. There 

 is danger, however, of the hind feet catching the heels and wrench- 

 ing off the shoes. The ground surface has to be so constructed as 

 to enable the horse properly to perform whatever work he may be 

 required to do, and to give him a sure foothold. It may be per- 

 fectly flat with just a groove to guard the nail heads, or be pro- 

 vided with small calkins (heels), or, where heavy weights are required 

 to be moved, a toe-piece or "spurn " has to be added. In all cases 

 it should be so constructed that the natural position of the pasterns 

 is interfered with as little as possible. 



Clips 



The clip is a small triangular piece of iron hammered out from 

 the toe of the shoe to enable it to retain a firm position. They 

 will be beneficial, or liable to cause injury, according to whether 

 they are drawn properly or not. 



The proper method. — They should be comparatively long in 

 their base and low in height, so that the pressure is distributed 

 mainly along the bottom of the wall, and the apex should not be 

 made sharp. The clip that is narrow in its base, with a point that 

 cuts like a knife, is most dangerous, and frequently causes serious 

 injury. When the shoe becomes loose or is partially thrown off, 

 the horse may tread upon it. In addition to this, the pressure is 

 not evenly distributed. Sometimes a little horn requires to be 

 removed from the toe, particularly in cart horses, to ensure a good 

 fit, but as little as possible of this should be done, and on no 

 account should any scooping out be allowed, as this weakens the 

 wall. A little rasping is all that is necessary. The clip can then 

 simply be turned over and hammered down, so that it fits the wall 

 without causing any pressure. 



Nails 



The position of the nails in a sense has a most important 

 bearing upon shoeing. As already observed, the outer crust is a 

 comparatively thin and unsensitive structure. The nails have to 

 pass through this without injury or pressure upon the sensitive 

 vascular structures immediately beneath, and at sufficient depth 

 to prevent the splitting of the wall, and to allow the point of the 



