PRACTICAL HORSESHOEING. 75 



Variation of Feet. — From the natural form of the hoof we 

 perceive that it descends obliquely outward, whereby it becomes 

 considerably broader at its basis than at the coronet; it also de- 

 clines in height toward the heel, and this change of contour, 

 together with the changes of growth, aftects its size and the degree 

 of obliquity in its various parts. Too much importance can not 

 possibly be attached by the workman to this variation, for it is of 

 the first importance to discriminate accurately and determine pos- 

 itively the normal and abnormal positions of the limb. It fre- 

 quently becomes exceedingly diiiicult to do this, owing to the 

 close similarity between the natural and unnatural positions exist- 

 ing in horses of difierent breeds, and to do it satisfactorilv will 

 often require the exercise of the closest scrutiny and draw upon 

 all the resources of experience, sound judgment, and anatomical 

 knowledsre. Horses' feet are alike in their anatomical combina- 

 tion, but they differ in conformation, condition, and size, and 

 what will suffice to level and balance one horse will have no 

 satisfactory effect on others. 



The Angle of Incidence. — But in a majority of cases the 



I 



solution of this first problem relating to the correct fall of the 

 angle of incidence may be easily obtained by carefully observing 

 the outlines of the pasterns, and closely noting the motion of 

 the whole extremity and especially of the joints. Sometimes 

 the overgrowth in length of toe or heel is too distinctly evi- 

 dent to admit of error, but in every instance the shoer must not 

 fail to make the foot the subject of a thorough and intelligent 

 examination, for upon his decision as to its natural position and 

 the succeeding step, namely, leveling the ground surface of the 

 hoof so that its angle will conform exactly to the inclination of 

 the pasterns, is where the art of farriery comes in. 



What Rule to go by. — It would be misleading to lay 

 down any arbitrary degree of obliquity, as it naturally varies 



