ON THE ART OF SHOEING. 347 



where that is practicable ; for I acknowledge, 

 that with thoufands of horfes, it is totally im- 

 practicable ; and it was purely owing to a want 

 of experience in riding different horfes over 

 the roads, that La Fofle and St. Bel recom^ 

 mended it without any referve. The method 

 of La Foffe to fhoe with half-moon fhoes, or 

 lunettes, reaching only half over the horfe's foot, 

 will fuit very few horfes indeed. I have often 

 fmiled at my own credulity, when, many years 

 ago, I fat off, top full of theory and Bartlet 

 and La Fofle, to ride my hack forty miles, (hod 

 with a bran new and neat pair of half-moon 

 fhoes. It was towards evening, and a very hid- 

 den and hard froft ; but the frogs touching the 

 ground, fecured my nag from flipping. She 

 carried me the journey, without much apparent 

 uneafmefs ; but on my return the following 

 day, refufed to go fafter than a walk after the 

 firft five or fix miles, and in five or fix more, 

 came fairly to a lfand-ftill; when I difmounted, 

 and drove her before me to the neareft inn. I 

 could difcover no vifible damage done to her 

 heels or frogs, but I fuppofed (lie flopped 

 merely from pain and fatigue in her feet. I 

 made repeated trials, afterward, with the fame, 

 and other horfes, but with no better fuccefs. 

 Neverthelefs, a perfon in the neighbourhood, 

 at the fame time drove feverai poft-horfes con- 

 stantly with half-moon ihoes 3 and, as I was in- 

 formed 



