340 



ON SHOEING, 



There can be no doubt that this one-sided nailing has been exceedinoly useful. It 

 lias, in many a case that threatened a serious termination, restored the elasticity of 

 the foot, and enabled it to discharge ils natural functions. It has also restored to the 

 foot, even in bad cases, a great deal of its natural formation, and enabled the horse to 

 discharge his duty with more ease and pleasure to himself, and greater security to his 

 rider. 



It is difficult to tell what was the character of " the old English shoe." It certainly 

 was larger than there was any occasion for it to be, and nearly covered the lower sur- 

 face of the foot. The nail-holes were also far more numerous than they are at present. 

 The ground side was usually somewhat convex. "The effect of Ibis," says Mr. W, 

 C. Spooner, " was to place the foot in a kind of hollow dish, which effectually pre- 

 vented its proper expansion, the crust resting on a mere ledge instead of a flat surface ; 

 and, on the ground side, from the inner rim coming to the ground first, the weight 

 was almost supported by the nails and clinches, which were placed, four or five on 

 each side, at some distance from the toe, and approaching nearly to the heels."* 



It was an improvement to make the ground surface flat, and to take care that it did 

 not press on the sole. At length, however, came the concave-seated shoe of Osmer, 

 which was advocated by Mr. Clark, of Edinburgh, improved by Mr. Moorcroft, and 

 ultimately became very generally and usefully adopted. 



THE HUNTING SHOE. 



The hunter's shoe is different from that commonly used, in form as well as in 

 weight. It is not so much bevelled off as the common concave-seated shoe. Sufli- 

 cient space alone is left for the introduction of a picker between the shoe and the sole, 

 otherwise, in going over heavy ground, the clay would insinuate itself, and by its 

 tenacity loosen, and even tear off the shoe. The heels likewise are somewhat shorter, 

 that they may not be torn off by the toe of the hind-feet when galloping fast, and the 

 outer heel is frequently but injudiciously turned up to prevent slipping. If calkins 

 are necessary both heels should have an equal bearing. 



THE BAR-SHOE. 



A bar-shoe is often exceedingly useful. It is the continuation of the common shoe 

 roond the heels, and by means of it the pressure may be taken off from some tendi^r 

 part of the foot, and thrown on another which is better able to bear it, or more widely 

 and equally diffused over the whole foot. It is principally resorted to in cases of corn, 

 the seat of which it perfectly covers — in pumiced feet, the soles of which may be thus 

 elevated above the ground and secured from pressure, — in sand-crack, when the prea- 



* A Treatise on the Foot of the Horse, by Mr. W. C. Spooner, p. 113. 



