ILLUSTRATED GUIDE. . 89 



My Plan for Interfering with the Hind Feet. — 

 I think we can safely say that more than half of the horses 

 now in use are animals that cut their ankles, and it is a 

 great objection. A horse of tliat kind is rejected by many 

 dealers ; but we argue that if they are properly shod, the 

 cause can be removed. The habit that smiths in general 

 have of leaving the inside of the shoe twice the thickness 

 of the outer side is all wrong. The shoe should be narrow 

 web and very light ; each side of the same thickness. The 

 toe-calk should be welded to the toe one-half inch inside of 

 the centre, leaving the inside of said calk the highest ; 

 heel-calks the same hight. By so doing the outside of the 

 shoe is one inch longer than the inside. It is now neces- 

 sary to pare the outside of the foot to the lowest. Your 

 shoe is now made fast to the foot with five nails — three 

 on the outside and two on the inner ; also, three clips, one 

 at the toe and one at each side. 



Interfering with Forward Feet. — I have known 

 valuable horses, and fast trotting horses, to cut their ankles 

 inside of the leg, and quite often the knee, and badly, too, 

 with the shoe of the opposite foot; and we think the plan 

 we adopt a good one. The outer web of the shoe should be 

 narrow and light, the inner wide and heavy, with the out- 

 side of the hoof pared the lowest. When all other plans 

 have failed, this has proved effectual. 



Quarter-Orack. — Much has been said, and various 

 plans (fevised, by which to heal a quarter-crack, such as 

 scoring with a knife, blistering, cutting with a sharp, hot 

 iron, riveting, and the like ; all which in some cases, have 

 proved a failure. Now, let me say, if you will follow my 

 directions, you will have a sound foot in three months. 



