CHAPTER XXVI 



PRACTICAL SHOEING 



Without a practical reference to shoeing, a book 

 on these Hnes would indeed be unpardonably 

 incomplete. But the subject is a wide one, and 

 opens up a branch of equine literature that is 

 already fairly well supplied with scientific work. 



Under the circumstances my readers must for- 

 give me for touching bluntly and endeavouring to 

 give sufficient hints to those who want some 

 practical knowledge, which, if they wish to add to, 

 let them learn from a first-rate shoeing smith in a 

 shoeing-forge how to make a shoe fairly well and 

 put one on. Certainly learn to take a horse's 

 feet up ; without that knowledge your stable edu- 

 cation is very hazy, because you would be unable 

 to personally pick out your horse's feet. 



Do not allow your horse's frog to be touched, 

 or only very slightly — ^just to pare off" the roughest 

 portion. Be sure that the frog touches the ground. 

 The horn which grows on the outside of the foot 

 ought not to be ragged above the shoeing-nails. 



Have your horse's shoes looked to every fort- 

 night in case they want removing, and let the 

 smith shoe each one all round at least every 

 month. Some people may not agree on this 



point, but in the long run it will prove an 



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