98 THE HORSE 



ties hold that this should never be done, inasmuch as 

 the burning of the hoof injures its texture. No doubt 

 it does, but the injury is only on the surface of the wall; 

 and, provided that the contact of the hot shoe with 

 the hoof Is very slight and very brief, I think that the 

 better fit thus obtained more than compensates for 

 the injury to the wall. 



If, however, after the shoe is thus " seated," the foot 

 is pared to make it fit the shoe — instead of altering the 

 shoe to fit the hoof — the foot is bound to be injured. 



The very worst practice in shoeing is to nail on an 

 undersized shoe, and then rasp down the hoof to make 

 it fit. This is often done, and it always produces con- 

 traction, and, sooner or later, lameness. 



The process of correct shoeing is thus described by 

 Mr. A. T. Stark: 



The right way to shoe any and every horse is to level and 

 true the hoof with the rasp, finish with the fine side of the 

 rasp — no paring knife or buttress — fit the shoe so that the 

 outside is flush (or a trifle more than flush) with the outside 

 edge of the hoof, nail on the shoe without letting it slip back 

 or out of place, clinch the nails — and that is all; absolutely all, 



CONTRACTION 



Bad shoeing and neglect of the foot result in con- 

 traction, and what contraction means Is thus described 

 by the well-known veterinary surgeon, Dr. A. S. 

 Alexander: 



The pain caused by the contracted hoof is intense and never 

 ceasing. Place a cord or rubber band around your finger tip, 

 and instantly there is felt a sensation of fulness, then pain, 



