on and usually prevents knuckling, which, hap- 

 pening when a horse is going fast, is liable to 

 cause a fracture of the pastern bones or ''break 

 him in two" across the back. 



If your prospective race horse is a pacer, 

 shoe him with a light, swedged shoe in front, 

 fitting the heels snug, especially the inside 

 heel, and bevel it ofif well so that it really 

 looks like a part of the foot. This is a pre- 

 caution against his hitting his hocks in pass- 

 ing, or grabbing the shoe with the opposite 

 hind foot — cross-firing. 



In shoeing him behind lower the foot a 

 trifle on the inside and use a half-swedged 

 shoe, swedged on the outside, half-round or 

 plain on the inside. Set the shoe full on the 

 outside, leaving a trail of half an inch turned 

 slightly out, and fit the inside close and short. 



A very good way to shoe a young pacer is 

 to put on about five ounces in front and four 

 ounces behind. As he improves and makes 

 speed — and his improvement is liable to be 

 more rapid and pronounced than your colt 

 trotter — it may become necessary to add a 

 little toe-weight or a pad, or a little heavier 

 shoe in front to steady him ; and it may also 

 be found expedient to reduce slightly the 

 weight of his hind shoes; but do not make 

 any radical change in dressing his feet. A 

 colt's shoes should be removed every ten days 

 or two w^eeks, and his feet dressed and 

 straightened up a little if he is in active train- 

 ing. If, however, it is found necessary to cut 

 his feet down materiallv and chanoe their 



Jo 



