THE CIIARLIER SHOE. 



135 



loose towards the heels, and interfere with the proper 

 development of the quarters. As the reader will 

 see, the heel and frog are left alone, so that the latter 

 can grow to its normal size, nearly filling the cavity 



of the hoof. 



A ' quarter ' shoe is all that is required. There 

 is a specimen now before me, which was taken from 

 a large hoof where it was doing good work. When 

 first put on, or rather put in, it 

 weighed exactly three ounces, 

 and has lost a quarter of an 

 ounce by wear. It is three-six- 

 teenths of an inch in thickness 

 and seven- sixteenths in width. If 

 it were straightened it would 

 measure rather more than seven 

 inches in length. Now, this is 

 altogether too large a shoe, but 

 I describe it as being an actual specimen which had 

 been in use. 



Seven inches, for example, is much too long, four 

 inches being amply sufficient for practical purposes. 

 It is also too thick, one-eighth of an inch being quite 

 enough ; and it is needlessly wide, the few nails which 

 are required being so small that there is plenty of 

 room for them if the width were diminished by at 

 least one-fourth. 



CHARLIER SHOE. 



