BREEDS OF HORSES 111 



ered with the outer varnish-like layer (periople) and should show no 

 cracks or clefts. Every hoof shows ring-formation, but the rings 

 should not be strongly marked and should always run parallel to 

 the coronary band. Strongly marked ring-formation over the en- 

 tire wall is an evidence of a weak hoof, but when limited to a part of 

 the wall is evidence of previous local inflammation. The bulbs of 

 the heels should be full, rounded, and of equal height. The sole 

 should be well hollowed out, the white line solid, the frog well de- 

 veloped, the middle cleft of the frog broad and shallow, the spaces 

 between the bars and the frog wide and shallow, the bars straight 

 from the buttresses toward the point of the frog, and the buttresses 

 themselves so far apart as not to press against the branches of the 

 frog. A hoof can not be considered healthy if it presents reddish 

 discolored horn, cracks in the wall, white line, bars, or frog, thrush 

 of the frog, contraction or displacement of the heels. The lateral 

 cartilages should yield readily to finger pressure. 



Various Forms of Hoofs. As among a thousand human faces 

 no two are alike, so among an equal number of horses no two have 

 hoofs exactly alike. A little study of different forms soon shows us, 

 however, that the form of every hoof is dependent in great measure 

 on the direction of the two pastern bones as viewed from in front 

 or behind, or from one side ; and that all hoofs fall into three classes 

 when we view them from in front and three classes when we observe 

 them in profile. Inasmuch as the form of every foot determines 

 the peculiarities of the shoe that is best adapted to it, no one who is 

 ignorant of, or who disregards the natural form of, a hoof, can hope 

 to understand physiological shoeing. 



The Feet. By the direction of the imaginary line passing 

 through the long axes of the two pasterns is determined whether or 

 not the hoof and pasterns stand in proper mutual relation. In the 

 regular standing position the foot-axis runs straight downward and 

 forward. Viewing the foot in profile the foot-axis should be straight ; 

 the long pastern, short pastern, and wall at the toe should have the 

 same slant. 



A Front Hoof of the Regular Standing Position. The outer 

 wall is a little more slanting and somewhat thicker than the inner. 

 The lower border of the outer quarter describes the arc of a smaller 

 circle that is, is more sharply bent than the inner quarter. The 

 weight falls near the center of the foot and is evenly distributed over 

 the whole bottom of the hoof. The toe forms an angle with the 

 ground of 45 to 50 and is parallel to the direction of the long 

 pastern. The toe points straight ahead, and when, the horse is mov- 

 ing forward in a straight line the hoofs are picked up and carried 

 forward in a line parallel to the middle line of the body, and are set 

 down flat. Coming straight toward the observer the hoofs seem to 

 rise and fall perpendicularly. 



A Hoof of the Base-Wide Position. This is always awry. The 

 outer wall is more slanting, longer, and thicker than the inner, the 

 outer quarter more curved than the inner, and the outer half of the 



