108 THE PRACTICAL HORSESHOER. 



no skill in using the butteris or knife. It requires a good 

 deal of practice to use these tools properly, but any hoy or 

 clumsv old fanner can burn a foot. 



I don't know how this idea of hot fitting* originated, but it 

 is about on a par with the practice of Indians in burning 

 away the surplus wood in shaving tools and implements. 

 There was a time, too, when farmers burned logs instead of 

 sawing them ; but that was long ago. Farmei's don't burn 

 logs now. Yet it is just as sensible to do so as to apply 

 a red-hot shoe to a horse's hoof. Let the man who believes 

 in putting a hot shoe on within three-eighths of an inch of 

 live flesh and blood try the experiment of placing a hot 

 horse-nail head on his big toe nail, and allowing it to remain 

 there until its shape is well defined on the nail. I think he 

 would then discover that hot fitting was not such a brilliant 

 idea as he had imagined. 



Another objection to burning a hoof is that it causes an 

 offensive smell and smoke, and makes the horse jerk and 

 twist so that it is a wonder some smiths don't get kicked to 

 death.— J5^ F. B. 



Against Hot Fitting. 



It is well known to all horseshoers that many horses' 

 feet, particularly the front ones, and especially in summer 

 time, are very hard and brittle, and about as difficult to cut 

 as a cow's horn. Now, if a red-hot shoe is held to a horse's 

 hoof for a few seconds the hoof can be immediately cut as 

 easil}'^ as a piece of mellow cheese. Mind what I say, the 

 foot is always cut instantlj^ after the burning, or there is 

 nothing gained by the operation. This alone is the reason 

 why hot fitters follow the practice, and anything else that 

 is said about it is merelj^ a waste of words, intended to mis- 

 lead. The word cold fitting- is a misnomer, for there is no 

 such thing. All shoes are fitted to the horses' feet while the 



