ILLUSTRATED GUIDE. 73 



the heels, and the fullering iron should have both sides 

 alike. It is a far better tool than the one-sided iron in 

 common use, which is generally so narrow and sharp, that 

 it not only makes the groove too small for the heads of the 

 nails to sink into, but it often splits the shoe. A narrow 

 groove may look neater than a wide one, but you will find 

 a wide one much more useful. 



CHOOSING- A SHOE. 

 The first thing to look at in choosing a shoe, is the kind 

 of foot you have to deal with. If the foot be a strong, 

 good-shaped one, it will be an easy matter to find a shoe 

 for it, only take care the web is not too narrow, and that 

 the shoe is not too light. A light shoe is apt to bend be- 

 fore it is half worn out ; and the pain caused by the pres- 

 sure of the bent nails against the tender lining of the 

 hoof throws the horse down, and most likely breaks his 

 knees. If the foot should be flat, with a weak, brittle 

 crust, you must still choose a stout shoe, for a horse with 

 such a foot would not go at all on a bent shoe, and the 

 shoe must have a wide web, because the sole is sure to be 

 thin, and will need plenty of cover to protect it. You 

 must also look at the seating, for if the foot is weak and 

 flat, the shoe must be well seated out to prevent its press- 

 ing upon and bruising the sole. But if the foot is strong, 

 and the sole arched, there need not be more seating than 

 will allow the point of a picker to pass freely round be- 

 tween the sole and the shoe ; otherwise dirt and small 

 stones will get in and bruise the sole as much as the shoe 

 would do if it pressed upon it. Having fixed on a shoe 

 to your mind, begin by cutting off the heels; and you 

 will find a half-round chisel a better tool for the purpose 

 than a straight one, because you should never cut them 



