344 SHOEING. 



to the strong pressure of his thumb. The proper thickness of 

 horn will then remain. 



The quantity of horn to be removed, in order to leave the pro- 

 per degree of thickness, will vary with different feet. From the 

 nrong foot, a great deal must be taken. From the concave foot, 

 the horn may be removed until the sole will yield to a moderate 

 pressure. From the flat foot, little needs be pared ; while the 

 pumiced foot should be deprived of nothing but the ragged parts. 



The crust should be reduced to a perfect level all round, but 

 left a little higher than the sole, or the sole will be bruised by its 

 pressure on the edge of the seating. 



The heels will require considerable attention. From the stress 

 which is thrown on the inner heel, and from the weakness of the 

 quarter there, the horn usually wears away considerably fastei 

 than it would on the outer one, and if an equal portion of horn 

 were pared from it, it would be left lower than the outer heel. 

 The smith should therefore accommodate his paring to the com- 

 parative wear of the heels, and be exceedingly careful to leave 

 them precisely level. 



The portion of the heels between the inflection of the bar and 

 the frog should scarcely be touched — at least, the ragged and de- 

 tached parts alone should be cut away. The foot may not look 

 so fair and open, but it will last longer without contraction. 



The bar, likewise, should be left fully prominent, not only at 

 its first inflection, but as it runs down the side of the frog. The 

 heel of the shoe is designed to rest partly on the heel of the foot 

 and partly on the bar, for reasons that have been already stated. 

 If the bar is weak, the growth of it should be encouraged ; and 

 it should be scarcely touched when the horse is shod, unless it 

 has attained a level with the crust. 



It will also be apparent, that the horn between the crust and 

 the bar should be carefully pared out. Every horseman has ob- 

 served the relief which is given to the animal lame with corns, 

 when this angle is well thinned. 



The degree of paring to which the frog must, be subjected, will 

 depend on its prominence, and on the shape of the foot. The 

 principle has already been stated, that it must be left so far pro- 

 jecting and prominent, that it shall be just within and above the 

 lower surface of the shoe ; it will then descend with the sole suf- 

 ficiently to discharge the functions that have been attributed to it. 

 If it is lower, it will be bruised and injured ; if it is higher, it 

 cannot come in contact with the ground, and thus be enabled to 

 do its duty. The ragged parts must be removed, and especially 

 tnose occasioned by thrush, but the degree of paring must depend 

 entirely on the principle just stated. 



