SHO ULDERS — SH YING 



more are used, five nails, two on the inside and three on the 

 outside, will be sufficient for a light horse in front, whilst 

 three and four nails respectively will be enough for his back 

 shoes ; but under all circumstances the shoes must fit, and 

 the nail-heads should also fit the holes in them. If it is 

 necessary to apply the shoe hot to the foot in order to see 

 how it fits, the iron should be red-hot at the time, as then it 

 has only to touch the horn instantaneously, whereas if it is 

 comparatively cool the contact must be longer and the 

 natural oiliness of the horn will be affected and the feet 

 become dry. On no account whatever should the outside 

 walls of the hoof be rasped, and the clinches should be neat 

 and effective, else injury to the horse's opposite leg may 

 occur. In cases of overreach, speedy cut, and other injuries 

 to the limbs, an alteration in the shape of the shoes often 

 affects a cure, and hence importance attaches to the illustra- 

 tions of specially designed shoes which are referred to in the 

 descriptions of such injuries. (See Shoeing Smiths, Tips?) 



Shoulders. — The shoulders of a horse extend from the 

 withers to the front of the chest, and consist of two bones, the 

 scapula and humerus. They should be long and sloping, 

 as a well-laid-back shoulder, and especially a narrow one, 

 represents speed, easy action, and elasticity of movement. 

 A thick shoulder, on the other hand, is more identified with 

 strength than speed, owing to the larger amount of muscle 

 it carries, and hence is usually found in cart horses, whereas 

 the narrow shoulder is associated with the lighter breeds, 

 and particularly the thoroughbred. The shoulder of a heavy 

 horse is not required to be as sloping as that of an animal 

 required for riding or light draught purposes, as a com- 

 paratively straight one fills the collar better and keeps it 

 in its place, and the cart horse is not a fast mover. (See 

 Action, Bones, Points, Speed?) 



Shying is undoubtedly a very dangerous vice for a horse 

 to indulge in, and a confirmed offender is best got rid of, 



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