THE PRACTICAL HORSESHOEH. 103 



in no other way, as every smith well knows. Ag'ain I 

 inquire, Why is so perfect a fit desirable ? The only an- 

 swer that can be given is, because the shoe will then stay 

 upon the foot much longer than it otherwise would. But 

 is it a fact that shoes hot fitted will stay on much longer 

 than those cold fitted ? We claim that such is the case. 

 This matter has been thoroughly tested, with the most sat- 

 isfactory results in favor of hot fitting. Some think hot 

 fitting rots the hoof and makes it brittle, and tell us that 

 some horses have had their feet so injured by hot fitting that 

 their shoes could not be kept on a week. I don't doubt 

 this statement, for I know very well that there are many 

 bunglers connected with tlie trade that never ought to be 

 allowed to meddle with a horse's foot ; and I unhesitat- 

 ingly affirm that nine-tenths of the evils supposed to be 

 the result of hot fitting can be traced directly or indirect- 

 ly to the incompetency^ or carelessness of the shoer. That 

 there are dangers attending the hot-fitting system, which 

 should be carefull^^ guarded against, I frankly admit. 

 Horses and oxen are often lamed through gross careless- 

 ness on the part of the shoer. A smith who will pare 

 the foot down so near the quick that it will readily yield 

 under the pressure of the thumb and then press the hot 

 shoe upon it, and hold it there until it is imbedded into 

 the foot the whole thickness of the shoe, causing the animal 

 to spring and cringe, deserves the severest censure and 

 ought to leave the business. I will now give my ^viiy of hot 

 fitting in shoeing cattle. For horses I seldom fit the shoes hot, 

 it not being necessary, as they stay on quite long enough 

 if put on cold, but with oxen it is dilFerent. 



In preparing the foot I use neither butteris nor knife, but 

 instead a sharp rasp. I rasp the foot down level, but not so 

 much that it will give under thumb-pressure. In applying the 

 hot shoe I am careful to see tiiat it does not remain on the 



