PREPARING THE HOOF. 



43 



This is one more of the inevitable evils of shoeing, but 

 which, nevertheless, the skilful workman may greatly pal- 

 liate. 



The farrier equalizes both sides of the hoof by apply- 

 ing his rasp in a sloping direction to the ground border 

 or end of the wall ; he also brings it to its natural angle 

 with the same instrument, by removing the necessary 

 amount of horn from the margin of the hoof at the toe 

 or heels : by reducing the former without interfering with 

 the latter, the obliquity of the foot is diminished (as in 

 Figs. 9, c, d, 10, a) ;• while rasping down the heels and 

 leaving the toe untouched increases it (Fig. 9, a, b). 



Fig. 10. 



In the great majority of cases, the heels, for the reason 

 stated, require but little interference ; the excess of growth 

 is nearly always at the toe, and thus no absolute rule can 

 be laid down as to the angle to which the hoof should be 

 brought. The practised eye can discern at once whether 

 the angle is in conformity with the natural bearing of the 

 limb, and will have no difficulty in adjusting it, should it 

 not be so, provided there is sufficient horn to spare for this 

 purpose. 



We have previously shown that the inclination of the 

 front of the hoof varies from 50° to 60°, and probably 

 the mean between these two angles will be that usually 

 observed. (Fig. 9, <7, e, /, is a hoof with about 52° of 

 obliquity; </, a, b, 45° ; g, c, d, more than 60°.) 



