PREPARING THE HOOF. 49 



process advanced to this stage, than it is time for him to 

 be reshod, when this part must again submit to be robbed 

 of its horn. 



The sole having been pared too thin and concave 

 leaves the circumference of the hoof standing much higher 

 than if it had been left intact, and apparently too long ; 

 so the wall must be still more reduced. This is done, and 

 we now have the whole ground-face of the hoof so wasted 

 and mutilated, that should the horse chance to lose a shoe 

 soon after being shod, the impoverished foot cannot bear 

 the rude contact of the ground for more than a few yards, 

 and the poor creature is lame and useless. 



The tenderness and lameness arising from this mal- 

 treatment are usually ascribed to every thing but the 

 right cause, and the most popular is concussion. To avert 

 this and protect the defenceless sole, a most absurd shoe 

 is required ; and, still more absurd, the natural covering 

 is attempted to be replaced by a plate of leather, inter- 

 posed between the ground and the sole, and which is 

 made to retain bundles of tow steeped in tar or some per- 

 nicious substance. It is scarcely necessary to say that 

 this artificial covering is but a poor substitute for that 

 which has been so foolishly, and with so much careful 

 labor, cut away ; indeed, in several respects the leather 

 sole, even when only placed between the wall and the 

 shoe, and not over the entire surface, is very objection- 

 able. 



Seeing, therefore, the natural provision existing in the 

 sole of the hoof for its diminution in thickness, when 

 necessary, and knowing that the intact sole is the best 

 safeguard against injury and deterioration to this region, 

 it must be laid down as a rule in farriery — and from 

 which there must be no departure — that this part is not 

 to be interfered with on any pretence, so long as the foot 

 is in health ; not even the flakes are to be disturbed. 

 3 



