THE PRACTICAL HORSESHOER. 7 



omitted and nail holes substituted. Then came the altera- 

 tion to thinner iron plates with but little opening-. Then 

 the more leng-thened heels, all unfit for securing- the feet in 

 rocky countries. Then the war horses were shod with very 

 large, heavj^ iron shoes, slightly turned up and pointed at 

 the toe, also cocked at the heel with broad spikes to afford 

 a surer footing at a charge. In the chivalrous age a march- 

 ing part^^ of marauders, by placing the horses' shoes in a 

 reversed manner, deceived pursuers, who, seeing the toe- 

 marks in a given direction, turned their backs upon the 

 route they pursued. This was practiced in the border wars 

 by w^hat were called ** moss-troopers," who had often great 

 reason to avoid capture, for the gallows not unfrequently 

 closed their career. 



Contrary to the general impression, says Gen. Dumas, the 

 Arabs of the Sahara are in the habit of shoeing their horses 

 with a view to the nature of the ground they are compelled 

 to travel over. It seems to be the universal practice among 

 these people to remove the shoes in spring, when the animals 

 are turned out to grass, it being asserted that care must be 

 taken not to check the renewal of the blood, which, it is 

 thought, takes place at this season of the year. Their 

 horseshoes are kept read^^ made (four sets of fore and hind 

 shoes being a 3'ear's supply), and are fitted cold. The 

 shoes are very light, but made of Avell-hammered iron. 

 The hoof is allowed to grow" freely, being neither pared nor 

 shortened, the very stony ground and incessant work re- 

 quired of the horse sufficing to wear it off naturally, as by 

 growth it projects over the iron. 



The Arabian smith while plying his vocation sits with 

 legs crossed and doubled under him. 



The nails used are so constructed as to serve as calks, be- 

 ing provided with large oblong heads. 



In the days when barbarous extravagance was taken for 

 magnificence:, a horse was occasionally shod with silver. 



