THE PRACTICAL HORSESHOER. 



91 



hoof from the sole of the foot, bemg very particular to It^t 

 the frog- bars stand on either side ; then remove the horn of 

 the foot, and rasp down level. Do not pare the frog, for if 

 you do the tender parts will be exposed, and it will soon be- 

 come ver3^ hard and unhealthy, and cause the foot to con- 

 tract. In Fig. 611 have endeavored to show a foot ready 

 to receive the shoe. 



Another important matter is the fitting. The shoe should 

 in every instance be fitted to the foot and not the foot to the 

 shoe. Heat the shoe so that in applying it will mark the un- 



rig. 62.— Showing Best Position for Nails. 



even surface (if any there be), which should then be removed. 

 Do not heat it red-hot and burn the foot down level, as that 

 renders the horn very brittle. Having the shoe fitted, it is 

 now ready to be nailed on. The nails should be given a 

 good hold in the sound hoof. The heel nail on the front foot 

 should be driven the lowest ; the second a little higher ; the 

 third and the fourth also a little higlier than the preceding 

 ones, as indicated in Fig. 62. 



The shoe being driven on, the next important point is to 

 draw the nails tightly to prevent the clinches from raising 

 above the foot and the shoe getting loose. After this has 



