THE HORSE S FOOT, AND HOW TO SHOE IT. 271 



of the shoe-rim, and the points, or calkins, of each heel. 

 The consequence is, that it throws the weight of the 

 body forward upon the toes, and is apt to make the 

 horse slip and stumble. 



*' Farriers, in general, are too desirous to excel one 

 another in making what is termed fine, neat work ; and 

 that is no other than paring the sole till it yields easily 

 under the pressure of the thumb : and, to give the frog 

 a fine shape, it is frequently pared till the blood appears ; 

 to prevent the eifusion of which, the actual cautery is 

 sometimes applied. It is to be observed, that, when the 

 sole is so much pared, it dries and hardens in proportion 

 as it is thinned; and the strong, horny substance of the 

 crust, overcoming the resistance from the sole, is thereby 

 contracted. This will produce lameness, the real cause of 

 which is overlooked, or little attended to. Among the 

 many disadvantages that attend the common shoes, one 

 is their being more liable to be pulled off, from their 

 great weight, length, &c., especially in deep ground, in 

 riding fast, or when the toe of the hinder foot strikes 

 against the heel of the fore-shoe. To prevent this in- 

 convenience, sixteen or eighteen nails are frequently 

 made use of, which destroy and weaken the crust by 

 their being placed too near one another ; and it is not 

 uncommon, when a shoe nailed in this manner is pulled 

 off, that the crust on the outside of the nails breaks 

 away with it. If this should happen a few days after 

 the foot has been so finely pared (which is not unusual), 

 or upon a journey, and at a distance from any place 



