SHOEING 93 



contraction will set In, and this, coupled with the excessive 

 strain on the tendons, ligaments, and bony structure, soon puts 

 them out of commission. 



This has been proved beyond all question. 



WEIGHT OF SHOES 



The weight of the shoe is a matter of great im- 

 portance. Most horses, especially light horses, are 

 shod too heavily, and the unnecessary fatigue caused by 

 lifting a superfluous weight thousands and thousands 

 of times is very great. 



A road horse weighing about one thousand pounds 

 should wear fore shoes weighing not over ten or twelve 

 ounces. A work-horse weighing about 1,400 pounds 

 should wear front shoes that weigh from twenty to 

 twenty-four ounces, and hind shoes weighing not more 

 than sixteen to twenty ounces. But these weights are 

 only approximate, for they depend largely on the 

 peculiar action of the horse, on the nature of his work, 

 and especially upon the character of the roads over 

 which he travels. 



It Is hardly necessary to say that a shoe should 

 always be heavy enough (strong enough would be 

 a better expression) to prevent any twisting or bend- 

 ing under the weight of the horse. Moreover on 

 very hard roads or pavements a fairly heavy shoe gives 

 the foot less jar and concussion than a very light shoe. 

 This Is a fact hard to understand, but it Is admitted by 

 all experts In horse-shoeing, and It seems to be proved 

 by this further fact that horses which are somewhat 

 sore forward go better on hard roads In fairly heavy 



