PREPARING THE HOOF. 45 



as the toe is reached, a larger quantity must be removed, 

 as in Fig. 11, a, b. The limit to this removal at the front 

 of the hoof must be when the wall is almost or quite re- 

 duced to a level with the strong unpared sole. It must 

 ever be borne in mind that, if the wall does not stand be- 

 yond the level of the sole, it does not require reducing. 



When the circumference of the hoof has at length been 

 brought to a condition fit to receive the shoe, the rasp 

 must finish its task by removing the sharp edge, and 

 rounding it so as to leave a thick strong border not likely 

 to chip. The unshod hoof nearly always exhibits this pro- 

 vision against fracture of the wall-fibres. 



Paring the Sole. — After the necessary diminution and 

 correction of the obliquity of the hoof, and the prepara- 

 tion of the bed for the shoe, the farrier usually proceeds 

 to pare the sole. Indeed, while the colt is still at large, 

 and before the time has arrived when its hoofs are to be 

 shod with iron, the workman is frequently called in to trim 

 the hoofs, and paring the lower surface is part of the oper- 

 ation. 



This procedure is as barbarous as it is unreasonable, 

 especially when carried to the extent that has been ad- 

 vised in books* on horseshoeing, viz., to pare the sole until 

 it springs to the pressure of the thumb. In the great ma- 

 jority of forges this most pernicious practice is carried 

 out, either because the owner of the horse thinks it neces- 

 sary, the groom or coachman that it makes the horse go 

 better and the feet to look well, or the farrier that it is 

 more workmanlike — though if he is pressed hard for any 

 other reason he is unable to give one of a satisfactory 

 character. 



Like so many practices relating to the management of 

 the horse, this paring of the sole is absurd in the extreme, 

 and has not the most trifling recommendation to support it. 

 Unfortunately for those who recommend, and also those 



S 



