348 SCIENTIFIC HOltSKSH()ElN(i. 



the realms of romance and placed upon tin; suw. foundation 

 of scientific certainty. 



Tliis balancing of the foot can only Ix' done by proi)er]y 

 dressing tlie lioof, so that the heels sliall b(> of precisely the 

 same heiglit and tlie toes of precisely the same length, and 

 the cleft of the frog, taken as the median line, shall show b}^ 

 compass measurement tliat each sectional portion of tlie hoof 

 is precisely the same in width. 



To comi)l(^te the limb and foot action it is only necessary 

 to arm tlie hoof witli the i)i"operly constructed shoe, in weight 

 and shape, as set forth in detail in my work on Scientific 

 Horsesho(nng. No two liors(^s are sha])e(l alike, and consc^- 

 quently no two horses are gaited alike ; so tha't the style of 

 shoe must be adapted to each individual horse. 



But while the weight and formation of the shoe jx'rfoniis 

 its important part the balance of the body depends largely 

 upon the correct harnessing of the horse. The long, straight, 

 eyen-necked horse cannot be checked ii[j high ; nor the arch- 

 ing necked horse, who naturally carries his head high in the 

 air, be drawn down by the standing martingale without dis- 

 turbing the center of gravity of the horse when in motion. 

 Then forging, speedy cutting and overreaching indicate the 

 disturbance thus produced, and faulty action is the inevitable 

 result. 



Every horseshoer should insist upon having the horse 

 driven in his presence before shoeing, in order to determine 

 whether this center of gravity of the carcass is thus properly 

 guarded. Then his task as a farrier is made comparatively 

 easy. 



Nothing would more conduce to these beneficial results 

 than a College of Farriery, which should be made a govern- 

 mental institution, for the benefit of the horse. 



