PREPARING THE FOOT. 153 



proper slope of the hoof (about 50 or 55) may be 

 obtained, will require to be reduced by the rasp or 

 drawing knife, while the heels will seldom need being 

 lowered. 



The slope of the foot may be readily measured by a 

 six-inch protractor, furnished with a small plumb line. 



The heels should be brought down to a level with 

 the frog, or, if the latter happens to have been cut 

 away, or to be smaller than natural, with the point it 

 would have reached down to, had it been fully deve- 

 loped. When the heels are abnormally low, allow- 

 ance for the fact should be made by the use of thick- 

 heeled shoes. 



The foot should be kept short, not alone to utilise 

 the frog as a buffer, but also to prevent it from becom- 

 ing diseased, which it will do unless the parts, that 

 secrete it, be constantly stimulated, by pressure, to 

 healthy action. 



The horn under the toes and quarters should be 

 lowered, so that the entire breadth of the shoe, on its 

 foot surface, may lie perfectly flat on the sole, as well 

 as on the wall of the hoof; while, at the same time, the 

 proper slope of the foot should be obtained. " It must 

 ever be borne in mind that, if the wall does not stand 

 beyond the level of the sole, it does not require reduc- 

 ing." (Fleming.) 



The foot should be of equal height both at the inner 

 and outer heels and quarters. 



In this reduction of horn, the rasp only should be used. 



" When the circumference of the hoof has at length 

 been brought to a condition to receive the shoe, the 



