CLIPS AND CALKINGS, NAIL-HOLES, ETC. 447 



THE LENGTH OF SHOES. 



" The length of the shoe is determined by the length of the crust. . . . 

 An objection is sometimes raised to fore shoes being made the full length 

 of the crust, on account of a fear lest the hind shoes should catch in them. 

 This accident, however, is not likely to occur where the shoes are not longer 

 than the crust. The possibility of it will be prevented by sloping off the 

 heels of the fore hoes in the direction of the fibres of the crust, and again 

 by sloping off the inner or posterior edge of the toe of the hind shoes." — 

 Sir F. Fitzwygrarn, " Horses and Stables,'" p. 484. 



CLIPS AND CALKINGS. 



" For carriage and saddle horses and hunters, each fore and hind shoe 

 should have a clip drawn up at the middle of the toe, except in special 

 cases, as when the horse overreaches, or, from being required to jump or any 

 other cause, is likely to strike any part of the back of the fore legs ; in which 

 case he hind shoes require to have a clip at each side of the toe ; none in 

 the middle." — G. Fleming, '^ Practical Horseshoeing,'' p. 6g. 



" Calkings [heels], though sometimes necessary, are in all cases more 

 or less of an evil. They are not really required for ordinary riding or 

 driving. Calkings are utterly inadmissible on the fore feet." — Sir F. 

 Fitzwygram, " Horses ami Stables,'" p. 4g2. 



NAIL-HOLES, ETC. 



" A great advantage is gained in the form of the nails by making use of 

 countersunk holes. With them the heads of the nails can never wear out, if 

 they fit the holes, until the shoe itself is worn through. With these nails 

 the heads should exactly occupy and completely fill the holes. No portion 

 of the thin part of the nail should be in the shoe, nor any portion of the 

 thick part in the crust. The thin part should begin where the nail quits the 

 shoe under the crust. 



" The nail-holes should be punched rather nearer the outside than the 

 inside of the web of the shoe, and should be brought out on the upper side 

 with a very slight inclination outwards, so as to diminish the risk of 

 pricking. 



