SHOEING. -Ts 



particular, as tlie feet of some animals grow more sole 

 than others, and superfluous increase tends to contrac- 

 tion, whereas care must be taken not to weaken the sole 

 of ordinary growth. I am aware that great difference 

 of opinion exists on this subject, but I speak from prac- 

 tical experience of the results of opposite modes of treat- 

 ment in this particular. 



If no shoes were used, the wear and tear of work 

 Avould provide for the disposal of this accumulation, 

 which, as nature is interfered with by the use of shoes, 

 must be artificially removed. 



If the frog be jagged it may be pared even, but the 

 sound parts should not be cut away, and on no account 

 should the smith's drawing-knife be allowed to divide 

 the bars or returns of the foot — an operation technically 

 called by the trade " opening the heels," to which falla- 

 cious practice farriers are pertinaciously addicted, be- 

 cause, in some one case of dreadfully contracted feet, 

 they may have seen or heard of temporary relief being 

 given by this process, with the natural result, which 

 they ignore, of the remedy proving itself in time worse 

 than the disease. 



If farriers are allowed, they will almost invariably 

 drive as many shoe-nails round the inside quarter as the 

 outside. This is a lamentable mistake, especially re- 

 garding the fore feet, as the foot being thus nearly all 

 round confined to the shoe, its proper action is inter- 

 fered with, preventing a possibility of its natural and 

 gradual expansion in action from the toe towards the 

 heel, as the horse lays his foot upon the ground, with 

 aU weight, as well as the act of propulsion, pressed on 

 it. 



The reason for liberating the inside quarter in prefer-. 



