. THE PRACTICAL HORSESHOER. 155 



iijiDg' illustration, Fig-. SQ, will be found vevy serviceable. 

 A half-bar shoe is one Avith a plate extending* from the 

 inner half of the shoe resting* on the frog. This allows 

 more area for the Aveight to rest on, and removes it from 

 the sole of the foot. Some horses never strike below a 

 six-mile gait, but between that and eleven-mile gait there 

 is often some fearful striking. 



Speed horses should never be shod heavy behind. A 

 horse can pick his limbs up better when not burdened 

 with metal. The cords of the legs can be controlled bet- 

 tei' when taxed to give momentum to a weight of iron 

 not required. 



The setting in of the shoe can also be observed when 

 the horse strikes with the front feet. Reduce the size of 

 the foot by cutting away the toe as much as possible. 

 Let the angularity commence at the heel, and relieve the 

 toe of as much hoof as the circumstances allow. This is 

 an advantage, as the hoof is reduced in size and brought 

 outside the line of danger in traveling. And this is all 

 that is required. 



When a shoe begins to bend it has passed its point of 

 usefulness, and should be removed at the earliest oppor- 

 tunit}^ A warping shoe is most injurious to a horse's 

 foot. Many horsemen never think of tracing the ail- 

 ments of their horses' feet to warping shoes ; but tliey 

 are an incessant source of danger. It often takes weeks' 

 time and loss of service to eradicate evils which they 

 produce. — By C. S. 



Bad Case of Interfering Cured. 



An otherwise valuable horse was an incorrigible inter- 

 ferer forward. He struck all the way from the ankle to 

 the knees, according to the speed at which lie was driven, 



