ON THE ART OF SHOEING. 357 



horfes in the degree it does thofe which are 

 obliged to move quick ; and the circumftance 

 of the former being confined to a walk, is ex- 

 tremely favourable to any neceflary amend- 

 ment in their (hoeing, even when their feet may 

 have been crippled, and worn tender by weight 

 of iron. 



If there be really no neceffity forthefe heavy 

 oval (hoes, beyond a paltry faving in the price 

 of iron, and a gratification of the ridiculous 

 prejudices of ignorant fmiths, furely the con- 

 cerned will no longer fuffer their own inte- 

 refts, and the feelings of their cattle, to be fo 

 idly facrificed. Excluding all ideas of rifk and 

 damage, let it be fimply confidered with what 

 eafe a couple of horfes, properly fliod with flat 

 narrow-webbed fhoes, and having their foles 

 entire, and their frogs in their natural ftate to 

 cling to a flippery fur face, would take a load 

 up-hill, over the pavement, to what they would 

 be able to do with the common large and oval 

 fhoes. It muff at lead make a horfe difference 

 in four ; but in the view of humanity, the dif- 

 ference is immenfe. Taking it as a mere point 

 of intereft, and fuppofing that the amendment 

 cannot be compailed without an additional al- 

 lowance to the farrier, there is nothing more 

 obvious than that it would be infinitely to the 

 advantage of the keepers of cart-horfes to com- 



a a 3 ply ; 



