72 PRACTICAL HORSESHOEING. 



trating the wall of the foot, no matter how skilfully it 

 may be placed, may be looked upon as a source of injury 



Fig. 16. 



to it, by splitting asunder or breaking its fibres. On the 

 form and weight of the shoe will greatly depend the 

 number of nails required to retain it. With that I have 

 described as used in hunting, or as modified by me, and 

 which rests firmly on wall and sole, as well as being as light 

 as is compatible with a certain period of wear, but few 

 nails are needed. The ordinary heavy shoe, on the con- 

 trary, is not only damaging to the foot, because it rests on 

 such a narrow basis, but also because its weight and insta- 

 bility necessitate its being attached by a large number of 

 long thick nails, which do great harm to the hoof. 



With care in fitting a properly constructed shoe, and 

 skill in placing the nails firmly in sound horn, the usual 

 number may be considerably reduced ; so that instead of 

 seven to ten being required, it will be found that from 

 four to six are equally serviceable, and even these may be 

 of diminished size. For shoes worn by medium-sized 

 draught-horses, I seldom allow more than six nails in the 

 fore and seven in the hind feet ; more frequently the for- 

 mer are secured by five nails — three in the outside and 

 two in the inside branch of the shoe, and the latter by 

 three on each side. 



