ON THE ART OF SHOEING. 37I 



Ruflius, who wrote fome centuries before the 

 noble Earl, fays, that a (hort toe, and a narrow, 

 light, and ftraight (hoe, make a large and 

 ftrong hoof, and a firm leg. In taking down the 

 toe, Solleyfel forbids the ufe of the buttrefs, di- 

 recting it to be done with a paring knife, after 

 the (hoe is fixed, which is to be purpofely fet 

 back, as far as neceflary. This, he fays, will 

 occafion a derivation of nourifhment backward 

 towards the heels, and in time greatly ftrengthen 

 and enlarge them ; which falutary confequence 

 is, indeed, well known to us If the rafp is at all 

 ufed in this bufinefs, it ought to be confined to 

 the toe, and laid on in fuch wife as to render 

 it as thick as pollible, in tender-footed horfes. 



The only advantageous method that I could 

 ever difcover of (hoeing deep ftrong feet, with 



CONTRACTED NARROW HEELS, is that of La 



Fofle, with the half- moon fhoes ; the cruft be- 

 ing previoufly taken down, as before directed. 

 The horfe being prefumed already lame, will 

 travel very little more fo, from his quarters be- 

 ing expofed, and as being totally unfit at any 

 rate for expeditious riding, a little tendernefs 

 and flinching may well be borne in a flow 

 pace, fince the fliort (hoes will be daily con- 

 tributing towards his cure, whilft large, hol- 

 low, and long ones would only be aggravating 

 the difeafe. The fmiths render thefe feet finally 



b b 2 ufelefs, 



