THE FOOT AND SHOEING. 24I 



when considered requisite. For this purpose the " small " nail will do, as 

 the shank will, if necessary, penetrate the hoof. 



It is a good plan to have: the head of the outside nail across the shoe, 

 and the inside one in the same line as the shoe, so as to prevent injury to 

 the opposite leg of the horse. 



The success of these nails entirely depends on the accuracy with Fitting 

 which they are fitted to the nail holes. The countersunk portion of the ^''°^^ nails, 

 nail head should be completely embedded therein, only allowing the 

 " chisel " head or sharp portion to remain above the shoe, otherwise an 

 undue strain is caused on the neck of the nail, which breaks or wears 

 loose, or bends over. Too much attention cannot be paid to this, as a 

 neglect of it often leads to failure. 



The shank of the nail is to be hammered tightly round the web of the 

 shoe or pinched off about half an inch from the foot surface of the shoe ; 

 this can be done by making a nick in the nail with the edge of the rasp ; 

 a bend or two with the pincers will then break it. The part of the shank 

 remaining should be firmly clenched by being hammered down. 



It is not necessary to remove the nails when the horses return to 

 stables, but it may be done at discretion. No special tools are needed 

 for the use of these nails ; the ordinary stamp and pritchel are suitable, 

 and the nails are readily removed with pincers. 



Wear of Shoes. 



A month is the period usually stated as the time a shoe should 

 last, and this is correct as regards the time it is advisable to 

 keep it on the foot, without attention. At the end of a month the horn 

 has grown to an appreciable extent, and whether the shoe is worn 

 out or not, it is generally advisable to take it off, and lower the foot. 

 If the old shoe is still good enough to be replaced, the operation is called 

 a "remove." The actual wear of shoes, however, depends, of course, on " Re- 

 their original substance, the work done, and the nature of the ground i^oves. 

 travelled over. A shoe which might be rightly considered too light for 

 use on the macadamized roads of England, would be unnecessarily heavy, 

 and wear for months in a roadless, sandy country, so that it is not 

 possible to obtain one single type shoe which is perfectly suitable under 

 all conditions. The actual weight of shoes generally used in England is Weight 

 about as follows :— of shoes. 



Hunters 4 to 5 lbs. per set. 



Carriage horses ... ... ... 5 to 7 lbs. „ „ 



Omnibus and van horses ... 8 to 14 lbs. „ „ 



Dray horses up to 20 lbs. per set. 



(b 10948) Q 



