o52 THE BAR-SHOE TIPS. 



its tenacity loosen, and even tear off the shoe. The heels like- 

 wise are somewhat shorter, that they may not be torn off by the 

 toe of the hiud-feet when galloping fast, and the outer heel is fre- 

 quently but injudiciously turned up to prevent slipping. If calk- 

 ins are necessary both heels should have an equal bearing. 



THE BAR-SHOE. 



A bar-shoe is often exceedingly useful. It is the continuation 

 of the common shoe round the heels, and by means of it the 

 pressure may be taken off from some tender part of the foot, and 

 thrown on another which is better able to bear it, or more widely 

 and equally diffused over the whole foot. It is principally re- 

 sorted to in cases of corn, the seat of which it perfectly covers — 

 in pumiced feet, the soles of which may be thus elevated above 

 the ground and secured from pressure, — in sand-crack, when the 

 pressure may be removed from the fissure, and thrown on either 

 side of it, and in thrushes, when the frog is tender, or is become 

 cankered, and requires to be frequently dressed, and the dressing 

 can by this means alone be retained. In these cases the bar-shoe 

 is an excellent contrivance, if worn only for one or two shoeings. 

 or as long as the disease requires it to be worn, but it must be 

 left off as soon as i*t can be dispensed with. If it is used for the 

 protection of a diseased foot, however, it may be chambered and 

 laid off the frog, it will soon become flattened upon it ; or if the 

 pressure of it is thrown on the frog in order to relieve the sand- 

 crack or the corn, that frog must be very strong and healthy 

 which can long bear the great and continued pressure. More 

 mischief is often produced in the frog than previously existed in the 

 part that was relieved. It will be plain that in the use of the 

 bar-shoe for corn or sand-crack, the crust and the frog should be 

 precisely on a level ; the bar also should be the widest part of the 

 shoe, in order to afford as extended bearing as possible on the frog 

 and therefore less likely to be injurious. Bar-shoes are evidently 

 not safe in frosty weather. They are never safe when much 

 speed is required from the horse, and they are apt to be wrenched 

 off in a heavy, clayey country. 



TIPS. 



Tips are short shoes, reaching only half round the foot, and 

 worn while the horse is at grass, in order to prevent the crust 

 being torn by the occasional hardness of the ground, or the paw- 

 ing of the animal. The quarters at the same time being free, the 

 foot disposed to contract has a chance of expanding and regaining 

 its natural shape. 



