28 THE PRACTICAL HORSESHOER. 



the bars or the frog", for these are very important parts of 

 the foot. Yet how often has a foot been contracted by the 

 cutting- away of tliese important parts ! Then the smitli will 

 too often resort to some cruel mechanical device for opening 

 the heels. 



It has been said, with truth, that the nailing" of an iron 

 shoe on the foot of a living horse is an unnatural thing to 

 do, but, as it must be done, let us, fellow-craftsmen, strive to 

 do it in the most natural way possible. And to do this we 

 must first get the foot as near as we can to its natural 

 shape, and then make the shoe to fit the foot. Keep it full 

 with the wall from the quarter to the heel, and I think it is 

 ver}^ important that the shoe should bear only on the wall 

 of the foot. Use as small a nail as possible and punch the 

 holes large enough, so the nails will not bend in them. I 

 Avould recommend punching the holes to suit the angle of 

 the foot — that is, if the foot is an upright one, let the holes 

 be almost through. But if the foot is flat, make the hole 

 slant inwardly to suit the greater angle of the foot. — By 

 W. M. 



General Directions for Shoeing Horses. 



In shoeing horses it is difficult to lay down a rule to 

 apply to all cases. We find such a great difference in 

 horses' feet, generally speaking. Even in single cases we 

 find no two feet Avhich should be shod exactly the same. In 

 the first place, it is of great importance to the shoer to 

 understand the nature of a horse's foot ; then he can very 

 easily tell when a foot is in a right position, or when it 

 is misplaced. When he understands the different position 

 of the bones, tendons, and ligaments, then he can ver^^ 

 easfi}^ see where the foot needs trimming. Now, there is not 

 attention enough given to this part of the trade of shoeing. 



In trimming a horse's foot, of course it is necessary to 



