210 SCIENTIFIC HORSESHOEING. 



termine for myself practically the difference in weight of the 

 fore and hind feet of horses, and having cut them off to the 

 coronet from the same horses and weighed them, have found 

 that the fore feet exceeded the weight of the hind feet on the 

 average of two and one-fourth to two and three-fourth ounces. 

 If now this difference had been a cause of forging, it was ob- 

 viously my duty to adjust the difference in weight in the manner 

 which I should deem most expedient in restoring the horse to 

 his balance. 



To treat successfully the habit of forging or clicking, it is 

 necessary that the farrier should know first the gait at which 

 clicking occurs, and the proportions and structure, or build, of 

 the horse. The feet are then to be examined and the part of 

 the shoe struck by clickings marked. A skillful farrier will 

 then be able to determme the causes and the remedies for each. 



If the horse hits the heel of the front foot, clip oft" the heel 

 of that shoe on the angle of the foot on the ground surface. If 

 he hits on the inside web at the toe, take the weight out of toe 

 of shoe from quarters to toe on both sides, leaving the weight 

 from quarters to heel. If he hits on the outer quarter, put the 

 drop crease on the outside. If he hits on the inside web of 

 shoe, concave the shoe on the ground surface at the point 

 touched. If the head is carried low, check it up so as to lighten 

 the front part ; if too high, check down with standing martin- 

 gales to add weight. If the breast collar is too low on the point 

 of shoulders, raise it up. If the propelling power behind is 

 too great for the front part, shoe with a five-ounce shoe heavier 

 behind than in front. If he forges at a certain gait, drive over 

 or under the gait. If the horse be a " dweller " with his front 

 feet, put on a double rolling-motion shoe, highest at the quar- 

 ters, gradually thinning the shoe from quarters to toe, then from 

 quarters to heel. The effect of such a shoe will be to quicken 

 his action in front. 



The shoes designed for the hind feet should in all cases pro- 



