272 NAVIX ox THE HORSE. 



The shoe may vary in width for different horses, depending 

 on the purpose for which they are used. A flat-footed horse 

 may also need a broader webbed shoe than a cup-hoofed one, 

 or one that has a very concave hoof. 



The web of the racer's shoe should not be very much 

 broader than the thickness of the crust. It is usually made so 

 that it is about the same width inside of the fullering that it is 

 outside of it. It is also made to fit evenly with the hoof 

 around the quarters and heel. The horse for the farm or gen- 

 eral purposes requires a shoe with a web somewhat broader 

 than the racer, but by no means so broad as is often put on 

 by those who think the shoe should cover a large portion of 



the sole. 



Heavy draught-horses, of course, require the broadest ^veb, 

 for the strain and v/ear of their shoes are the greatest; nor 

 does the additional weight greatly interfere with their slow 

 motion. 



Weight of the Shoe.-—T\\ii weight of the shoe mainly depends 

 on the thickness. The bar should be just thick enough to fur- 

 nish the proper strength for the service for which the horse is 

 required. A heavy road-horse requires a heavy shoe. The 

 shoe should generally be of the same thickness all the way 

 around. But certain impediments require a departure from 

 this rule, which will be pointed out in the proper place. 



The Calkins or ''Cor/is^ — Many smiths are in the habit of 

 turning calkins, or, as they often call them, "corks," on all 

 shoes, and alike for all horses, for whatever purpose they may 

 be used. This is a most injurious practice. 



Calkins are not only generally useless, but positively injuri- 

 ous. The horse that ii to be used for heavy draught, on exceed- 

 ingly hard, steep roads, or on ice or frozen ground, may require 

 them, but for general purposes, on ordinary roads, they are an 

 evil. When they are used, both should be of exactly the same 

 length. In no case should a calkin be turned on one heel and 

 not on the other. By this practice, which is often recommended 



