THE FOOT AND SHOEING. 227 



(6) Opening the heels is another term for cutting away the bars, in 

 order to make the heels look wider. It weakens the heels, 

 ultimately causes them to contract, and is rightly prohibited. 



The above described errors in preparation still flourish in some Effects of 

 quarters outside the army, and may often be observed in newly -joined faults in 

 horses. There is no doubt that to the unthinking observer a neatly P^epara- 

 dumped foot with a smoothly pared sole, opened-out heels, and symmet- ^^°"" 

 rically trimmed frog, has a more attractive appearance than the natural, 

 strong, somewhat rough-looking hoof, with its flaky-looking sole and 

 rather ragged, prominent frog, and for this reason such practices flourish. 

 The insidious nature of these evils also aids in their continuance, for so 

 strong is the hoof that it is only after a year or two of persistent abuse 

 that their effects are apparent. Then, however, the dry brittle wall, into 

 which nails can be driven with the greatest difficulty, the high-arched, 

 easily-bruised sole, the thrushy, shrivelled frog, the narrowed heels, and 

 pottering gait, tell their own tale, and end by shortening the animal's 

 useful life. It is worthy of note in this connection, that all unnecessary 

 cutting and paring of the hoof increases the smith's difficulties, and only 

 the most skilful workman can shoe persistently ill-treated feet with any 

 success. 



In speaking of the structure of horn, it was noted that the moisture Rasping 

 contained in the tubes gave it the quality of toughness. This moisture is ^^^ '^va.W. 

 most abundant in the young, soft horn, and becomes less and less in the 

 outer and older portions. Rasping the outside of the wall, paring the sole, 

 and cutting the frog, permits its escape and produces brittleness ; these 

 operations should therefore be confined to the narrowest possible limits. 



Shoes. 



A detailed explanation is here given of the various terms used in Explana- 

 connection with the different parts of shoes generally, and reasons for and tion of 

 against their adoption are also stated where necessary. terms 



The whole of the substance of the shoe is called the " wed;' and the "^^°- 

 width of the web, ^' cover,'' e.g., a wide-webbed shoe, is frequently spoken 

 of as having "plenty of cover." From the toe to the heel on each side is 

 a '■^branch." The terms "/^^" and "" heel" sufficiently explain themselves, 

 and the '''"quarter" is that part between them on each side. The surface 

 which is in contact with the foot is the " beari7ig " or " foot surface," and 

 it may be either flat or " seated." 



Seating is the hollowing out of the bearing surface, opposed to the Seating, 

 sole, so that a seated shoe bears on the wall alone (fig. 46). A "-saucer" 

 (B 10948) P 2 



