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HANDY-BOOK OF HUSBANDRY. 



the hoof where the movement in expansion and contraction is 

 very slight, that part of the hoof which is required to make the 

 greatest movement is left free to move over the shoe ; and the 

 natural action of the parts is preserved, so far as, in the artificial 

 condition, it is possible that it should be. Concerning the paring 

 of the hoof in shoeing, Youatt says : — 



*' The act of paring is a work of much more labor than the 

 " proprietor of the horse often imagines. The smith, except he 

 "is overlooked, will frequently give himself as little trouble about 

 "it as he can; and that portion of horn which, in the unshod foot, 

 " would be worn away by contact with the ground, is suffered to 

 " accumulate month after month, until the elasticity of the sole is 

 " destroyed, and it can no longer descend, and its other functions 

 " are impeded, and foundation is laid for corn, and contraction, and 

 " navicular disease, and inflammation. That portion of horn 

 " should be left on the foot which will defend the internal parts 

 " from being bruised, and yet suffer the external sole to descend. 

 " How is this to be ascertained ? The strong pressure of the 

 " thumb of the smith will be the best guide. The buttress, that 

 " most destructive of all instruments, being, except on very par- 

 "ticular occasions, banished from every respectable forge, the 

 " smith sets to work with his drawing-knife and removes the 

 " growth of horn, until the sole will yield, although in the slightest 

 " possible degree, 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 

 " proper degree of thickness, will vary with different feet. From 

 " the strong 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 need 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 



