THE FOOT AND SHOEING. 237 



point of such practical importance as with heavy and draught shoes, but 

 in any case it adds to the labour. With very heavy shoes, any but the 

 most trivial alterations to the width of the heels become impracticable in 

 cold metal. 



Although not so accurate and satisfactory, cold fitting can never- 

 theless be carried out with sufficient success to be of practical utility, and 

 being a necessity in war, must be practised in peace. To get satisfactory 

 results, the workmanship must be of a good standard, and the shoer a 

 thoroughly well-trained man. 



An objection to hot fitting on the score of injuring the hoof is not a 

 practical one, as it presupposes a bad workman. If the sole is over- 

 lowered or too much burnt, no doubt a grave injury may result, and the 

 shoe should be no hotter and not held on the foot longer than necessary ; 

 but with a skilful man no harm is done, and results justify its adoption. 



Having obtained a level bearing, an accurate fit round the edge, and 

 removed small pieces of horn where clips are fitted, the smith then cools 

 the shoe, files it up, and it is ready for nailing on. 



Faults m fitting. — Overlowerins, of the sole should not occur with an Over- 

 ordinarily careful workman, a possible exception being where a horse lowering: 

 with unusually thin, flat soles is being shod for the first time. of the sole. 



Excessive bur?iing of horn is sometimes done from a mistaken idea Excessive 

 that the procedure makes a more solid bed for the shoe. As a matter of burning 

 fact, the reverse is the case, for the charred horn becomes so brittle that °^ "'^^'^• 

 it crumbles away beneath the shoe, and is likely to be a cause of it 

 getting loose. Occasionally this fault is practised to make rasping 

 easier. 



Dumping may be a fault of fitting as well as of preparation. It is Dumping, 

 rigidly repressed in the army, but is constantly practised outside it. 

 From a mistaken idea that the foot should be smaller and neater looking 

 than nature has made it, the shoe is often made less in circumference 

 than the hoof, and the latter is then rasped round the wall till the 

 desired size is obtained. Its bad results have already been noted 

 (p. 226). 



Too wide.— The shoe should accurately follow the outline of the foot Too wide, 

 and not project beyond it at any point, an error which may cause the 

 horse to strike the opposite leg (brush). A little extra width is per- 

 missible at the heels, when frost nails are to be fitted. 



Too long a shoe, projecting beyond the heels, is distinctly faulty. Too long, 

 as it increases the liability of the shoe to be torn off, if struck by the toe 

 of the hind foot. The shoe should extend up to the end of the heel, and 

 be bevelled off in line with the heel itself. 



