THE horse's foot, AND HOW TO SHOE IT. 253 



leaving the other parts free and unfettered in their 

 natural movements. These are the true and simple 

 principles of good farriery he lays down; and they are 

 as appropriate and explicit to-day as they were then." 



Lafosse croes on to 



to 



say, 



"To prevent horses slipping on the dry, glistening 

 pavement, — pave sec et plomhe^ — it is necessary to 

 shoe them with a crescent-shaped shoe, — that is, a shoe 

 which only occupies the circumference of the toe, and 

 whose heels gradually thin away to the middle of the 

 quarters, — so that the frog and heels of the hoof bear 

 on the ground, and the weight be sustained behind and 

 before, but particularly in the latter, because the weight 

 of the body falls heaviest there. The shorter the shoe is, 

 the less the horse slips ; and the frog has the same influ- 

 ence in preventing this that an old hat placed under our 

 own shoes would have in protecting us from slipping on 

 ice. 



"It is necessary, nevertheless, that hoofs which have 

 weak walls should be a little longer shod, so that the 

 •gradually thinning branches reach to the heels, though 

 not resting upon them. For horses which have thin, con- 

 vex soles, — pieds comhles^ — these long shoes should be 

 also used ; and the toes should be more covered to pre- 

 vent the sole touching the ground : at the same time, 

 the shoe must be so fitted that it does not press upon 

 the sole, and the heels and frpg rest upon the ground. 

 This is the only true method of preserving the foot, and 

 restoring it. ... A horse which has its heels weak and 



