APPLYING THE SHOE. 93 



It is best to fit the shoe in a hot state, as it must have 

 a level bed and follow exactly the outline of the wall. 



Fig. 20. Fig. 21. 



After it has been fitted, it is advisable to remove, by a 

 small drawing-knife, a little of the horn from the angle of 

 the groove in the hoof, to correspond with the rounded 

 inner edge of the shoe. This insures a proper amount of 

 space between the latter and the soft horn at the margin 

 of the pedal bone. 



In strong hoofs, the shoe is almost entirely buried in 

 the groove ; but in those which have the soles flat or con- 

 vex, with low heels, it is not safe to imbed it so deeply. 



The application of the hot shoe in fitting should not ex- 

 tend beyond a very few seconds. 



The shoe is nailed to the hoof in the ordinary manner 

 (Fig. 22). For saddle and light carriage horses, I have 

 usually found four nails — two on each side — for each shoe 

 sufficient. These should be placed wide apart at the toe 

 and^rather close to the heel (Fig. 23, er, b). Every nail 

 must be driven in sound horn, otherwise the shoe, being 

 so narrow, may get the branch bent out, and nothing more 

 is needed than to lay the clenches down evenly on the 

 wall. No rasping is required. "When the shoe is attached 

 to the foot, we then perceive that a portion of the sole and 



