THE PRACTICAL HORSESHOER. 89 



hoof, B is the horn}^ frog*, C is the sensitive membrane of 

 the frog', D is the sensitive membrane of the sole, E is the 

 sensitive laminse, and Fis the plantar cushion (or sensitive 



frog). 



It can been seen by a glance at the cut where so many 

 mistakes are made in shoeing' horses, either by driving a 

 nail into the part marked E, when it becomes inflamed and 

 causes great pain, and will often cause the horse to go 

 lame, or b}^ cutting away at the frog until they strike the 

 sensitive part marked F, when the frog will soon waste 

 away and smell bad, causing navicular disease. 



Now, my idea of preparing a foot for a shoe is not to cut 

 away the sole ; merely leveling it off with the rasp, and re- 

 moving any splinters or loose pieces, and shortening the 

 toe ; and not cutting away any of the frog, but merely re- 

 moving any rough or string}^ pieces. 



Do not cut the sole away until 3'ou can spring it with your 

 thumbs, for if j^ou do you will take away the only protec- 

 tion the foot has against rough roads and inclement 

 weather. You will wonder Avhy the horse is lame and rest- 

 less on his feet (even in the stable). It is because you have 

 cut too much of the sole awa3^ This is a great mistake 

 many horseshoers make, who, imagining the^' cannot hurt 

 the foot b}^ trying to make it look nice and clean, sometimes 

 cut until the blood comes. This is wrong ; as the sole is the 

 natural protection for that part of the foot, it must be left 

 as near its natural condition as possible, thei-eby saving the 

 foot from contraction ; for it is quite reasonable, if you cut 

 out the sole you weaken the sides, causing them to di'avv 

 in. 



Do not cut awaj^ the frog until 3^ou have sti-uck the quick 

 or sensitive frog — you might as well cut the skin from the 

 sole of your own feet and tr^^ to walk on rough roads, or 

 wear rough shoes without stockino-s. Let it remain in its 



