103e SCIENTIFIC HORSESHOEING. . 



with what is termed brokea bars, similar to quarter cracks ; but 

 the latter are in the external portions of the hoof, although they 

 may penetrate deeply into the soft tissue, often producing lame- 

 ness. This sole, like the frog, exfoliates, and when left to na- 

 ture the old horn is cast off at intervals as the new is strong 

 enough to take its place. But when, after the foot has been 

 shod, the squamous tissue is protected from wear and held in 

 place by the protecting shoe, that dead portion should be re- 

 moved; but do not use the knife too freely. The sole should 

 be left as strong as possible in perfect feet. 



It goes without saying that the after usefulness of a horse 

 depends upon the good judgment and practical experience of 

 the farrier shoeing him. It is not a question of how cheap, but 

 how good? As the old adage holds: Anything half done is 

 not done ; " any thing well done is twice done." 



As to shoeing speed horses, no man can intelligently shoe 

 one without seeing him in harness; and, while standing in 

 front, he should watch him as he approaches and passes, and 

 notice how he picks up his feet and puts them down on the 

 ground. If the horse's motion is level and smooth, his front 

 and hind strides will be of the same length; if he is hitching 

 and hopping behind, these strides are unequal. A skillful, 

 practical horseshoer can overcome this by close observation. 

 Again, the farrier may have properly balanced the feet; but the 

 driver can undo all the good done by unbalancing the body in 

 checking up the head too high. The fault may not be in the 

 shoeing, but with the driver. 



To balance the foot and leg is, tnerefore, the first and all- 

 important step, before shoeing. And the work will not be 

 complete or well done until they are made to stand directly 

 underneath the body, as before enjoined. To neglect this is the 

 greatest mistake, from which certainly may result any of the 

 diseases which impair the foot and leg, and ultimately, if not at 

 once, ruin the liorse. 



