46 



SHOEINQ. 



SHOEING. 



With a poor hoof an otherwise 

 valuable horse becomes almost 

 worthless, so that the common 

 saying, "no foot, no horse," is 

 practically correct ; for this reason, 

 the subject of horse shoeing is one 

 which should receive much atten- 

 tion, as it is by poor shoeing that 

 so many horses are rendered al- 

 most valueless for life. 



For want of space we can only ^ _^ _ .. _ 



give some of the more important points which should be observed in 

 order to preserve the hoof in a natural and healthy condition. 



The hoof, m its natural state, is adapted only to a grassy surface; so 

 that, when we wish to bring the horse into practical use upon our hard 

 and stony roads, it becomes necessary to protect the hoof, by shoeing, 

 from^ the unnatural wear and tear which it is subjected to. 



.Pv '>f Tf ^Vli^' "'^'"''"'^ '^'^' ^^ ^^^'^^ "^ ^h'-^^-^ ^f tl^« ^^^^ who are 

 peimitted to do this very important work, of shoeing the horse, are so 



Ignorant of the nature and structure of the foot and the principal rules 



which shoiadguu\e them in doing this very important branch of work. 



It IS a gi-eat fault of nearly all shoers that they cut and pare with the 



Idea of improving the foot, when their aim should be, mainly, to let 



nature have her course as much as possible, or, in other words, to im- 



itate the natural condition of the foot and only pare away such parts as 



noHhrf T.' T f • ^''^ ^^^"^ ^^^""^^^ ^'^^^' b^ «"-^ '- the foot and 

 whi. tn!n . r "' '' '"" "^'"^ Vr^ci\se(\. That part of the hoof 

 which should not have pressure is the portion between the bar and 



ab^:t^i!;?rinr""" ^'^"^' '^ "-^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^^^^ ^^ ^^- ^-^' ^- 



The frog should be allowed to come to the ground, which will pre- 



nlact r/^r^ f"';;'' '^' ^^"^"^^^^^ vvhich would otherwise take 

 ^]^ ^A ^^^^''''3 fioiddnot he eut down, as is frequently practised nor 

 should it be touched, when healthy, except for the purpose of clean ing 



