PUTTING ON THE SHOE. 335 



oars, he will readily perceive that the smith should be checked in his almost universal 

 fondness for opening the heels, or, more truly, removing that which is the main impedi- 

 ment to contraction. The portion of the heels between the inflexion of the bar and the 

 frog should scarcely be touched — at least, the ragged and detached parts alone should 

 be cut away. The foot may not look so fair and open, but it will last longer without 

 contraction. 



The bar, likewise, should be left fully prominent, not only at its first inflexion, but 

 as it runs down the side of the frog. The heel of the shoe is designed to rest partly 

 on the heel of the foot and partly on the bar, for reasons that have been already stated. 

 If the bar is weak, the growth of it sliould be encouraged ; and it should be scarcely 

 touched when the horse is shod, unless it has attained a level with the crust. The 

 reader will recollect the observation which has been already made, that the destruction 

 of the bars not only leads to contraction, by removing the grand impediment to it, but 

 by adding a still more powerful cause in the slanting direction which is given to the 

 bearing of the heels, when the bar does not contribute to the support of the weight. 



It will also be apparent, that the horn between the crust and the bar should be 

 carefully pared out. Every horseman has observed the relief which is given to the 

 animal lame with corns, when this angle is well thinned. This relief, however, is 

 often but temporary ; for when the horn grows again, and the shoe presses upon it, 

 the torture of the horse is renewed. 



The degree of paring to which the frog must be subjected, will depend on its promi- 

 nence, anr" on the shape of the foot. The principle has already been stated, that it 

 must be left so far projecting and prominent, that it shall be just within and above the 

 lower surface of the shoe ; it will then descend with the sole sufficiently to discharge 

 the functions that have been attributed to it. If it is lower, it will be bruised and 

 injured ; if it is higher, it cannot come in contact with the ground, and thus be enabled 

 to do its duty. The ragged parts must be removed, and especially those occasioned 

 by thrush, but the degree of paring must depend entirely on the principle just stated. 



It appears, then, that the office of the smith requires some skill and judgment, in 

 order to be properly discharged ; and the proprietor of horses will find it his interest 

 occasionally to visit the forge, and complain of the careless, or idle, or obstinate 

 fellow, while he rewards, by some trifling gratuity, the expert and diligent workman. 

 He should likewise remember that a great deal more depends on the paring out of the 

 foot, than on the construction of the shoe ; that few shoes, except they press upon the 

 sole, or are made outrageously bad, will lame the horse ; but that he may be very 

 easily lamed from ignorant and improper paring out of the foot. 



THE PUTTING ON THE SHOE. 



The foot being thus prepared, the smith looks about for a shoe. He should select 

 rne that as nearly as possible fits the foot, or may be easily altered to the foot. He 

 >vill sometimes, and especially if he is an idle and reckless fellow, care little about 

 this, for he can easily alter the foot to the shoe. The toe-knife is a very convenient 

 instrument for him, and plenty of horn can be struck oft" with it, or removed by the 

 rasp, in order to make the foot as small as the shoe ; while he cares little, although 

 by this destructive method the crust is materially thinned where it should receive the 

 nail, and the danger of puncture, and of pressure upon the sole, is increased; and a 

 foot so artificially diminished in size, will soon grow over the shoe, to the hazard of 

 considerable or permanent lameness. 



While the horse is travelling, dirt and gravel are apt to insinuate themselves 

 between the web of the foot and the sole. If the shoe were flat, they would be per- 

 manently retained there, and would bruise the sole, and be productive of injury ; but 

 when the shoe'is properly bevelled off, it is scarcely possible for them to remain. 

 They must be shaken out almost every time that the foot comes in contact with the 

 ground. 



The web of the shoe is likewise of that thickness, that when the foot is properly 

 pared, the prominent part of the frog shall lie just within and above its ground sur- 

 face, so that in the descent of the sole, the frog shall come sufficiently on the ground 

 to enable it to act as a wedge, and to expand the quarters, while it is defended from 

 the wear and injury it would receive, if it came on the ground with the first and full 

 tihock of the weioht. 



The nail-holes are, on the ground side, placed as near the outer edge of the shoe as 



