174 



SCIENTIFIC HORSESHOEING. 



Fig. 69. wheeled hind foot, 

 showing long toe and low heel. 



back tendon from overtaxation and 

 assist nature in bringing the foot 

 upon its natural angles. Pare the 

 base of the hoof as shown to dotted 

 line, H. File or rasp the front wall 

 to dotted line, B. After the foot is 

 dressed, apply shoe (Fig. 115) with 

 heels extended well back of foot, 

 and their height varying with the 

 emergencies. If the shoe is proper- 

 erly adjusted, the best results may 

 be expected. 



B, H, Lines to which surplus 

 growth should be removed at 

 front of foot and from toe to heel. 

 A, Unnatural thickness of wall 

 in front. 



Defective Ankle Joints or 

 Knuckling. — The catalogue of dis- 

 eases, defects and deformities in the 

 feet of horses has bv this time, the 

 reader will perceive, grown to a considerable length. In tracing 

 them to their small beginnings, we find a striking instance of 

 the serious results springing from the *' un- 

 considered trifles " of shoeing. The weak- 

 ness peculiar to some horses in their hind 

 ankle joints, next suggests itself. This 

 troublesome afl'ection, in many cases, arises 

 from the overtaxation of the fetlock during 

 colthood, and, again, from hoofs or shoes 

 having high toes and heels, or from heredi- 

 tary influences. This defect is found to be 

 more prevalent among speedy horses having 

 long pasterns than those of any other kind. 

 Short upright pasterns in conjunction with 

 high heels and short toes ; also improper 

 shoeing — allowing the toes to grow too long 

 and low heels — will render speed horses 



Fig. 70. defective an- 

 kle JOINT. 



A, A, Line to whicli 

 base of lioof eliould be 

 reduced. 



