SPECIFIC AND REMEDIAL SHOEING. 297 



hind when up to speed. Drawing too much weight when up 

 to speed, too long drives when out of condition, or being over- 

 driven when short of work, may cause hitching j and it may 

 spring from curb, ringbone or spavin. In many cases the cause is 

 unbalanced feet. For instance, taking oft" the front and hind 

 shoes the horse has been accustomed to wearing- and chanofins- 

 the weight in front and behind may cause the horse to lose his 

 stride. 



The best and most successful way to overcome hitching is 

 to first find the cause, and then by removing the cause the efiect 

 ceases. But whatever may be the cause of hitching and hop- 

 ping behind, it will always be found, by measuring the stride 

 of the hitching leg and foot, that it is from four to seven inches 

 shorter than the stride of the opposite leg and foot. My expe- 

 rience is that it is best to shoe the short stridins: foot with a 

 shoe or stick-fast weight. If the footprint in front or behind 

 is four inches shorter in the stride than the opposite front foot 

 or the opposite hind foot, I make the weight in the shoe one 

 ounce to the inch. If the stride is four inches shorter than the 

 opposite foot, I place the four ounces in the shoe or in the stick- 

 fast weight. 



In general, to cure a horse of hitching, the farrier should 

 first learn the weights in front and behind the horse is accus- 

 tomed to when he trots squarely. Next find out at what gait 

 he begins hitching. JSTotice all the peculiarities and even ques- 

 tion the driver. But the most important is to see that the feet 

 are properly balanced and under the body. Then, having 

 studied the horse and learned all his defects and peculiarities, 

 shoe hini to correct them all according to the instructions here- 

 tofore given. It may become a matter of more or less experi- 

 ment, but practical experience and good judgment are the 

 handmaids of success in scientific farriery. Cultivate them. 



