CHAPTER XIV. 



OX SHOEING. 



Making and Fitting Ox Shoes. 



I will ^ive 3^ou my ideas on ox shoeing. The first point 

 to he considered is the shoes, that is, which is the cheapest 

 and best, machine or hand-made shoes ? There are several 

 companies that make ox shoes. A malleable iron shoe is 

 very good and cheap, but they will not fit all kinds of feet, 

 especially the hind ones. These are not so rounded as the 

 front feet, and should not be so wide in the web. 



My idea of the best ox slioe is a hand-made one. It will 

 give the best satisfaction to both parties. To be sure hand- 

 made shoes cost a little more than machine-made ones, but 

 you can make them at odd times, making some of them 

 more and others less rounded at the toe or heel or both. 

 Then by having a stock on hand 3^0 u will find shoes that 

 Avill fit all kinds of feet, thereby saving enough time in 

 putting them on to make up for the extra cost. I take the 

 best refined iron, 1^ inches by -^ inch, for hind shoes, and 

 1| inches to If inches by i\ inch for front shoes. I should- 

 er down and draw out the toe, then shoulder the heel the 

 opposite w^ay, bend over the horn to the desired circle, draw^ 

 the inside edge thin, and punch the holes with a counter- 

 sink punch so that the nail heads Avill fit. I like punching 

 better than creasing, as it makes a stronger shoe, and one 

 that will stay in place longer, because the strain comes on 

 the head of the nail, instead of under it, as in most creased 

 shoes. 



In fitting up the shoes I turn up the toe and heel, making 



