342 SCIENTIFIC HuUSESHOJ]ING. 



because he moves with the greatest possible economy of mus- 

 cles. The stride of siicli a trotter can be lengthened or short- 

 ened by the rules laid down in Scientific Horseshoeing, as his 

 development in speed may require. But, to preserve his line 

 of action, he must be shod so as to bo perfectly comfortable 

 in his feet. This means that the comparative length of toe 

 and height of heel should be accurately adjusted ; that tlie 

 foot should be dressed to a level ; that the weiglit of the shoe, 

 and in the sulky or road wagon sliould be iti proportion to 

 his muscular capacity, and that all his bruslies of speed 

 should be finished well within his courage. If he is short 

 pasterned, he will have a quick-drum-beat revolution, and 

 this should not be interfered with to the extent of making 

 his muscles sore. 



If he is long in the pasterns, lie will l)e long gaited, and 

 provided in either action the horse goes clear free from hop- 

 ping or hitching, or cross-firing or over-reaching or any other 

 defects, tlien he should be shod with thin, l)road, wide web 

 shoes, that place the hoof as near to the ground, almost, as 

 in tlie natural state ; and the front shoes should not be made 

 more than two and one-half or tliree ounces heavier than the 

 hind ones, in order to comply with tlie same relative w^eight 

 of the front and hind feet in their natural green state. Thus 

 shod and rigged, the line trotter in perfect condition, under 

 the most skillful reinsmen, is destined to become the i3erfec- 

 tion of the fleet-footed trotting horse. 



