THE horse's foot, AND HOW TO ^HOE IT. 249 



*' 4. They move heavily, as the weight of their shoes 

 fatigues them. 



" 5. Long shoes with massive heels raise the frogs 

 from the ground, and prevent the horse walking on 

 those parts. Then, if the horse has a humor in the 

 frog, it becomes a ficthrush, or crajpaitd (canker), be- 

 cause the humor lodges there. In shoeing with short 

 shoes, the horse goes on his frog ; the humor is dissi- 

 pated more easily, particularly in the fore-feet, as the 

 animal places more weight upon them than the hind 

 ones. 



" 6. Long shoes, thick at the heels, when put upon 

 feet which have low heels, bruise, and bend them in- 

 wards, and lame the horse, although the heel be sprung ; 

 and, when the foot is raised, we can see daylight between 

 the shoe and the hoof When it is on the ground, the 

 heel descends to the shoes, because the hoof is flexible. 



" 7. Shoes long and strong at the heels, when the 

 foot is pared, — the frog being removed a long distance 

 from the ground, — cause many accidents ; such as the 

 rupture or straining of the flexor tendon, and compres- 

 sion of the vascular sole, — a circumstance not known 

 until I pointed it out. 



'' 8. Long shoes cause horses to slip and fall, because 

 they act like a patten on the slippery pavement, as well 

 in summer as in winter. 



^' 9. Long shoes are also injurious when horses lie 

 like a cow, in consequence of the heels wounding the 

 elbows. 



