VALUABLE HINTS TO FARRIERS, ETC. 339 



edition of Scientific Horseshoeing, These hind shoes shoukl 

 also be of equal weight, but on the outside of the foot the 

 horse cross-fires with, should be attached a stick-fast weight 

 having exactly the same ounces in weight that the cross-firing 

 hind stride is short in inches. 



The desirable patterns for the front feet will be found illus- 

 trated in figures 150 and 151, pages 252 and 253, of the sixth 

 edition of Scientific Horseshoeing. The prevalent cause for 

 cross-firing is that of unbalanced feet, produced largely by un- 

 even dressing, and rarely by misshapen limbs. To the mis- 

 shapen feet and limbs can be applied, too often, badly con- 

 structed and fitted shoes. Sometimes the causes are more hid- 

 den than these ordinary troubles. For instance, the teeth are 

 sometimes out of order, causing the horse to take the bit on 

 one side, and thus throwing the head and neck out of line. 

 This one-sided carriage of the head and neck is frequently ac- 

 companied by tilting the rump to the opposite side. With the 

 use of the cross-firing shoe above set forth and the aid of the 

 weights, and tlie balancing of the feet, the stride can thus be 

 made as regular as the ticking of a watch. 



It is to be hoped that these remedial agents have been 

 made so clear to the average farrier that horses thus afflicted 

 will be universally benefited. 



In all cases of cross-firing, have the mouth examined, and, 

 if the teeth are out of condition, be sure to have a competent 

 horse dentist to fix them. 



