90 



THE PRACTICAL HORSESHOER. 



natural condition, let it touch the ground; do not try to 

 make it look neat b}' cutting- away a most valuable sup- 

 porter of the foot and leg", causing the hoof to lose its 

 proper shape at the heels. 1 contend that the frog must 

 touch the groujid in order to fulfill its dut}^ to support the 

 foot and prevent contraction, for while it does there can 

 be no contraction, and it is the only remedy for contrac- 

 tion. 



Do not open up the heel, as it is tvorse than cutting away 

 the frog — it is a support for the heel, and if cut out it causes 

 a weakness of the walls of the hoof and will cause contrac- 

 tion of the heel. Merelv shorten the toe and level the foot 

 and proceed with fitting the shoe. — By J. R. 



Dressing the Foot. 



One of the great and most important features of horse- 

 shoeing is the dressing- of the foot. In performing this 



Fig. 61. — Showing Foot ready for the Shoe. 



operation it is first very important that the tools employed 

 in paring be in good condition. It is hardly necessary to 

 say that judgment is required, as some feet grow more rap- 

 idly at the toe and others at the heel. Remove the dead 



