SHOEING 95 



sary burden. The only case, so far as I know, In which 

 it is ever beneficial, is that of the horse who over- 

 reaches because he steps too long behind. Sometimes a 

 very light shoe forward, and a somewhat heavier shoe 

 behind will stop the overreaching. In most cases, how- 

 ever, the exactly opposite course would be more likely 

 to prevent overreaching, namely, making the fore shoes 

 considerably heavier than the hind shoes. 



THE WEB OF THE SHOE 



Another point about which there has been some dif- 

 ference of opinion Is this : Should the web of the shoe 

 bear In any degree upon the sole of the foot? The 

 answer Is, No; except perhaps in the case of mules and 

 of horses who have what Is called a mule foot. This 

 Is a strong, upright foot, which can usually stand some 

 sole pressure. But, generally speaking, the weight af 

 the horse should come altogether upon the wall and 

 frog. 



Is there, then, any reason for using a broad-webbed 

 shoe In any case? Yes; because In the case of a weak, 

 flat foot, and most of all in the case of a horse that 

 has been foundered, the sole, near the wall, needs pro- 

 tection, and that can be afforded by using a broad- 

 webbed shoe so concaved that It protects the sole near 

 the wall, but does not rest upon It. This kind of shoe 

 will often save a horse from bruises. The farriers 

 describe a shoe of this shape as "seated out." 



TREATMENT OF THE SOLE, FROG, AND BARS 



Undoubtedly many farriers pare the sole and frog 

 too much; and In most books on this subject the gen- 



