206 



THE PRACTICAL HORSESHOER. 



the feet are crooked the^^ are out of balance, aiid this also 

 bring-s a constant strain on the joints. Keep your horse's 

 feet straig'ht, of an even length on the sides and at the 

 quarters, and then apply a shoe with an even bearing on 

 the wall. 



Alwa^^s keep a pair of compasses in your shoeing box, 

 and measure the hoof as shown in the accompanying illus- 

 tration, Fig. 114, from A to B on either side of the toe, and 



Fig. 115— Showing the Tool Used by " J. C." in Shoeing. 



from C to D at the quarters, then make a tool like the one 

 shown in Fig. 115, to indicate the degrees at which a foot 

 should stand, and you will have no trouble in balancing the 

 foot properly. The hoof should be set at about 5-4 to 56 

 degrees. This tool is made of three pieces of iron riveted 

 together as follows : Front, 4 inches; bottom, 5 inches; cross- 

 piece, 6 inches long. The bottom piece is curved as shown 

 in Fig. 115. The diagram, Fig. IIG, is given to show the 

 correct angle so that a blacksmith who wishes can make a 

 tool accurately from this angle. — By J. C. 



