364 ON THE ART OF SHOEING. 



if otherwife, he flips with his toe not his heel. 

 As to calkins upon the fore-heels, I am con- 

 vinced nothing refults from them but mifchief 

 and danger in any cafe. In frofly weather, or 

 upon a chalky or flippery country, (harp-head- 

 ed, four-edged ice nails, made of the hardeft 

 fluff, are the only fecurity; unlefs, as an addi- 

 tional one, it be thought proper to indent the 

 welts and toes of the fboes, which may have 

 confiderable effect. In this affair, there is cer- 

 tainly an exception to be made with regard to 

 cart-horfes, which are obliged to buck with 

 heavy loads, an exertion in which the flrefs 

 materially lies upon the heels, and naoft of all 

 the hinder ones. The cafe is the fame with the 

 (haft-horfe, in going down- hill. It is a quef- 

 tion, whether their frogs would, in thofe re- 

 fpects, be fufflcient ; if not, calkins behind might, 

 as ufual, be adopted, but not at any rate be- 

 fore. 



To recapitulate, all horfes with good feet 

 fhould, and well and fafely may, be (hod with 

 flat, light, narrow-webbed fhoes, made of the 

 hardeft iron ; thefe fhoes fhould be formed 

 thickeft at the toe, and thinnefl: and narrowefl: 

 at the heel, that the animal may have that 

 equal and fleady bafe, which nature intended 

 him. 



I fliall conclude this chapter, with the beft 

 profefiional advice I have been able to procure 



upon 



