90 PRACTICAL HORSESHOEING. 



the weight of the shoe is a matter of some importance. 

 Of course, the three-quarter shoe and the tip are only re- 

 quired for the fore-feet ; the hind-feet shoes, so long as 

 they are level, are not over heavy, and do not wound the 

 opposite limbs, may be of the ordinary pattern. On this 

 difference between the management of the fore and hind 

 foot we cannot too much insist. The fore-foot is particu- 

 larly disposed to disease and injury ; the hind-foot is won- 

 derfully exempt. So much is this the case, indeed, that 

 the proper management of the first is all important, while 

 the other requires but little attention. The reason of this 

 is due to the fact that the horizontal body, and long, heavy 

 neck and head of the horse, cause the largest proportion 

 of the weight to fall upon the front pair of supporting 

 columns, and, through them, upon the feet : the fore-limbs 

 are those most concerned in supporting weight, the hind 

 ones in propelling the body forward. Hence the necessity 

 for allowing as much of the lower face of the fore-foot as 

 possible to come in contact with the ground ; and hence 

 the prevalence of disease in it when improper shoeing 

 limits its points of contact to the narrowest dimensions. 



Various Methods of Shoeing. — Another form of shoe 

 is that commonly known as the " bar shoe " — a ring or 

 annular plate of metal which increases the surface of con- 

 tact by resting, to a large extent, on the frog, and allow- 

 ing that important body to participate in weight-bearing ; 

 in this way it also relieves the heels when these are weak 

 or injured. It is a very useful shoe, but the additional 

 weight given to it by the bar, and the extra strain on the 

 nails retaining it to the hoof, are drawbacks. 



To apply a shoe in such a manner as to allow the frog 

 to receive a due amount of pressure, has always been the 

 aim of those who have made the horse's foot an object of 

 careful study. Even with the ordinary shoe, if it be not 

 too thick nor garnished with calkins, the frog, if unmuti- 



