THE horse's foot, AND HOW TO SHOE IT. 259 



counterpoise he ought to give to his body to maintain 

 its equiHbrium, and so preserve him from falHng, twist- 

 ing, or stumbhng. 



"The object of shoeing, by him who first resorted to 

 it, would only be as a preservative and a defence, as 

 much for the wall as for the sole. But he would not 

 add the condition of paring either the one or the other, 

 I do not say to our excess, but in any way whatever; 

 because this would be contrary to his principle, and 

 would destroy his work. 



" This precaution (paring) can only be recommended 

 in cases where the horn is rugged, and the shoe does 

 not rest on it everywhere equally, thus opposing its 

 solidity. In such a case it is right ; but otherwise it is a 

 contradiction and an absurdity. I have often questioned 

 those amateur horsemen who were particularly careful 

 to have their horses' feet pared ; but none of them could 

 demonstrate either its necessity or propriety. . . . The 

 horny sole receives its nourishment from the vascular 

 sole : its softness and pliancy are due to its thickness ; 

 and its nourishment is diminished, while it becomes 

 harder, in direct proportion to the thinness we give it. 

 We even see horses, whose soles are pared, habitually 

 lame. The air, when the sole is in this state of thin- 

 ness, penetrates and dries it to such a degree, that, if 

 care is not taken to keep it damp when the animal is in 

 a dry place, it contracts, and presses on the vascular 

 sole ; so that, if some time after we wish to pare the 

 sole again, it is not possible to do so, because it is so 



