IIU SCIENTIFIC HORSESHOEING. 



Regulating the Gait. — With a view to correcting and bal- 

 ancing with proper shoes and weights any faults he may have, 

 carefully note every point in the action of a young horse while 

 giving him a little preliminary driving. If the action is dispro- 

 portionate, or the propelling power of the hind limbs excessive 

 and their stride longer or more rapid than that of the front 

 ones, their movements can be regulated and equalized in this 

 way. The feet must first be leveled and balanced in the manner 

 provided for when shoeing the perfect foot. (Fig. 23.) Very 

 light shoes are then to be put on all round. For the front feet, 

 use the pattern of scoop-toe shoe seen in Fig. 121, as this will 

 quicken their revolution. Then, by using the shoe (Fig. 139) for 

 the hind feet, having the ends of the branches calked length- 

 wise and turned outward beyond the heel h inch or more, the 

 flexion and extension of these limbs will be retarded to a desfree 

 that will accommodate them to the difference in movement of 

 the front limbs. 



In all such instances, however, the weight of the shoes 

 must be adapted to suit the style of action, some horses requir- 

 ing more and some less weight, to fulfill the purpose in view. 

 In cases where light shoes fail, or where the horse has a low, 

 swift gait behind and does not use his hocks sufliciently, it is 

 necessarv to shoe heavier behind than in front — the hind shoes 

 to weigh, say, from 4 to 5 ounces more — because the greater 

 weight on the hind feet will cause him to use his hocks and 

 muscles more in picking up his feet, and this will naturally tend 

 to slow the action behind and thus allow time sufficient for the 

 front feet to get out of the way. 



If the action is naturally well-balanced, the shoes should, 

 of course, be of the same weight all round. 



Balancing the Action. — It is sometimes a matter of great 

 difliculty to balance and square the action of horses, especially 

 trotters. The requirements are so many and varied that various 



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