190 THE IMPROVED ART OF FARRIERY. 



4. For a perfect hoof, the shoe should not be more 

 than three-quarters of an inch broad, and of the same 

 thickness at the heel as at the toe. 



5. The shoe should never be put on hot, conse- 

 quently pattern-shoes should be made for a good foot 

 and a valuable horse. 



6. The English system of " fullering," or making 

 a furrow all round the lower surface of the shoe, to 

 admit the heads of the nails to a level with it, should 

 be laid aside. The French method of making holes 

 with a punch of sufficient size to bury the head of the 

 nails, is preferable. 



7. The saddle-horse requires the shoe and nails to 

 weigh from 12 to 14 ounces ; the coach-horse from 

 16 to 20 ounces. 



8. The hinder differs from the fore-foot in being 

 straighter at the quarters ; the shoe must be framed 

 accordingly. 



9. No horse should be allowed to wear the same 

 shoes longer than a month. 



10. The bar-shoe, which is often called into use 

 when the foot is affected with corns, sandcrack, &c., 

 or in cases of pumiced feet, should never be worn for 

 more than one or two shoeings, or longer than the 

 disease requires. They are very unsafe in frosty 

 weather. 



11. The most important object to be borne in mind 

 is the treatment of the foot at the time of shoeing, and 

 one inflexible rule should be strictly adhered to, viz., 

 never to permit the blacksmith to shape the foot to the 

 shoe, but to oblige him to shape the shoe to the foot, 

 nor to suffer him to cut away more of the hoof than 

 would naturally be worn away were the animal in a 

 state of nature." 



