SPECIAL AND GENERAL SHOEING. 121 



of wall from coronet to base, same length of ground tread from 

 heel to toe, and carry the same weight and style of shoes, their 

 action and stride should be the same, and this rule applies also 

 to the hind feet. 



To supply any insufficiency in ground tread of hoof, the 

 shoe should be made to project over the toe enough to line up 

 with the correct angle of hoof and pastern, all as explained and 

 shown in Chap. IV, with Figs. 16 to 29. 



The Pacing Horse. — Having shown in the preceding chap- 

 ter that the necessity for action of a certain kind has in some 

 cases been the cause of breed evolution, and in others breed evo- 

 lution has necessitated the development of action of an entirely 

 difterent character, I come now to speak of one of these artificial 

 gaits as displayed by the pacing-bred animal. The pacing horse 

 shows his ability to successfully compete with other distinctive 

 " speed horses " in their own sphere, but he will not compare 

 side by side in popular favor with the trotter as a road horse. 

 The action is a succession of changes from one side biped to the 

 other, resulting in the active swaying and balancing of the body 

 with a sidelong shifting movement, developing in the best 

 types, great reach of stride at speed in an easy frictionless man- 

 ner, with much force and power of action. 



For horses of this kind use as light and thin shoes as will 

 suffice for the protection of the hoofs from concussion in swift 

 movements, but no more. They should be concaved on the 

 ground surface to make landing secure without spreading or 

 sliding, and for the same purpose the hind shoes may have low- 

 heel calks. Figs. 140 or 149. In all other points observe the 

 order of procedure in leveling the foot, adjusting and nailing the 

 shoes, according to conditions noted in connection with perfect 

 foot. Chap. IV., Figs. 23 and 27. 



The Racking Horse. — Another acquired gait is called the 



