LEGS OF THE HORSE, THEIR ACCIDENTS AND DISEASES. 367 



It should be remembered that there is no chance of reducing the 

 enlargement until the cause is removed. A boot should be worn till the 

 tendency to interfere is obviated. 



XVI. Overreaching. 



Causes. — Overreaching is catching the toe of the hind foot on the heels, 

 quarters and shoe of the fore foot, often cutting the quarters badly, in- 

 juring the hoof and causing it to grow down from the wounded part, 

 giving rise to quarter cracks, weak quarters and rough, horny patches over 

 the heels and pasterns. 



What to do. — This is a fault that has to be overcome by proper shoe- 

 ing. Usually, shoeing quite heavy forward and very light behind will 

 make the horse take up the fore foot quicker, and get it out of the way 

 of the hind foot before the latter strikes it. But in trotting horses, this 

 is insufficient ; for, when trotting fast the hind foot passes by the fore 

 foot on the outside to get an extra long reach ; but they often fail to do 

 it nicely and cut their quarters badly. This is usually overcome by 

 weighting the hind foot on the outer side of the toe, cornerwise, as it 

 were, to the foot ; this will have a tendency to throw the foot outward 

 and forward at the same time. 



But in slow-going horses this is impracticable, and dependence nmst be 

 placed on shoeing. The heels of the fore shoe need to be very short, 

 the toe of the hind shoe set well back under the hoof, and the toe calk, if 

 any, set well back on the web of the shoe ; but in such cases, if the 

 work of the horse will allow, it is best not to have any toe calk at all — 

 let the shoe be plain. While trying different plans to overcome the 

 habit, apply quarter and heel boots to the fore feet to avoid ruining 

 them. 



XVII. Forging. 



Forging is the habit of clacking the hind and fore shoes together 

 when trotting. It is not productive of any harm other than wearing off 

 the toe of the hind foot ; but it is very disagreeable and annoying to the 

 driver, and fatiguing to the horse. 



Causes. — The position of the feet at the time of the clack is differ- 

 ent from what it is popularly supposed to be. The prevailing impression 

 IS, that the toe of the hind shoe comes in contact vnth the heel of the 

 fc^-e shoe, but that is a mistake. As the fore foot is being raised off the 

 ground, with the heel already raised and the foot in th3 act of rolling on 

 the toe, the toe of the hind foot comes flying in under the heel of the 

 fore, and the two shoes come together, the toe of the hind against the 

 web of the fore, making the cladding noise. It often f/ears off the to© 

 of the hind foot badlyr 



