PREPARING THE HOOF. 39 



rectly transverse to the line passing down from these, then 

 the wall has only to be lowered equally on both sides, if 

 it be too high. 



It must be remembered, in levelling both sides of the 

 lower surface of the hoof, that the difference of a few frac- 

 tions of an inch between them will cause considerable, and 

 perhaps very hurtful, oscillations of the weight thrown on 

 the limb. 



A properly-instructed farrier should be able, at a glance 

 across the upturned foot, to discover whether it is tolerably 

 level. In Fig. 7 I have shown what is meant by a prop- 



Fig. 7. 



erly-levelled hoof, the dotted line a a being directly trans- 

 verse to the vertical line 5, and the distance from a to c 

 of one side being equal to that from a to c of the other. 



Shortening the Wall. — Reducing the wall to proper 

 dimensions is another important matter in connection with 

 the preparation of the foot for the shoe. We have seen 

 that the natural and moderate wear of the unshod hoof is 

 compensated for by the incessant downward growth of the 

 horn, and that this process of wear and regeneration main- 

 tains the proper dimensions and just bearing of the foot. 

 But on the application of the shoe a barrier is at once op- 

 posed to the wear, while the growth is not interfered with ; 

 consequently, the hoof continually increases in length and 

 obliquity — a change which causes derangement in the dis- 

 position of the weight on the lower part of the leg and 

 foot, and other inconveniences. 



