264 



SCIENTIFIC HORSESHOEING. 



feet when at speed ; also, the feet will not slip in or out so easily 

 this way. The hind feet can in most eases be shod with ordinary 

 turned up heels, as this will assist in preventing the " calking" 

 of one hind foot by the other. Side heel calks ought to be 

 placed on the inside branch of the shoe, near the heel, as this 

 will lessen the danger of wounding the opposite member. 



All about Calks. — It should, however, never be lost sight 

 of that the shorter, sharper and smaller the calkins are, so long 

 as they answer the purpose for which they are intended, so much 

 the better for the foot that wears them. High calkins, while 

 they confer no firmer foothold, may easily become a source of 

 injury, both to the foot itself and the limb at large. It is only 

 from that portion of the catch which enters the ground surface 

 that the horse derives any benefit in the shape of foothold ; and 

 it must be apparent to every one that long calkins have no ad- 

 vantages in this respect over moderately short ones on hard, un- 

 even groniid, wliile they ]iresent many other disadvantages, on 

 which I have already laid particular stress in Chaps. lY and VI. 



Bracing or Crutch 

 Shoes. — Fii^. 109 is a 

 style of shoe for the right 

 front foot, used to brace 

 up the weak ankle or 

 pastern that leans in, so 

 as to prevent the horse 

 from hitting and bruising 

 the inside of the front 

 lee:. I have used this 

 shoe with the most satis- 

 factory results. 



Fig. 169. right front shoe. 

 A, Toe and heel calkins, inside shoe. 



