SHOEING. 75 



tial, as the amount of friction by work will wear that 

 requisite. 



For a few days after the washers are replaced, the 

 boxes should not be screwed too tightly, but subse- 

 quently they should be re-tightened. The noise of 

 wheels joggling upon their axles indicates want of 

 screwing up, or of washers. 



A round tire is decidedly easier for draught than a 

 flat-edged one. 



Carriages, immediately after use, should be cleaned, 

 or at least have water dashed over them, to prevent the 

 mud from drying on the paint, which can scarcely fail 

 to deteriorate it, and give it a premature appearance of 

 wear. 



SHOEING. 



Some horses are very averse to being shod, through 

 some fright the first time of shoeing, or bad manage- 

 ment. It is better to overcome such shyness or vice 

 by gentleness or stratagem than by force of any kind. 



Some few animals even require to be cast, or placed 

 under the influence of the painful twitch. Before re- 

 sorting to any force, however, the following means 

 should be tried in preference to others : — Let whoever 

 is in the habit of riding or exercising the horse mount 

 him when regularly bridled and saddled, the girths be- 

 ing a little looser that if intended for work ; ride to the 

 side of the forge, and there let him (his rider still on his 

 back) be shod the first time ; on the second visit to the 

 forge, if it be spacious enough, he may be ridden into it 

 for the same purpose. 



In shoeing, the smith's rule ought to be to fit the 



