SHOEING. 643 



they are evils, inasmuch as they press upon the crust as it 

 grows down, and they should only be used when circum- 

 stances absolutely require them. In the hunter's shoe they 

 are not required at the sides. One at the toe is sufficient. 



THE HINDER SHOE. 



** In forming the hinder shoes, it should be remembered that 

 the hind limbs are the principal instruments in progression, 

 and that in every act of progression, except the walk, the 

 toe is the point on which the whole frame of the animal 

 turns, and from which it is propelled. This part, then, 

 should be strengthened as much as possible, and, therefore, 

 the hinder shoes are made broader at the toe than the fore 

 ones. Another good effect is produced by this, that the 

 hinder foot being shortened, there is less ^ danger of over- 

 reaching or forging, and especially if the shoe is wider on the 

 foot surface than on the ground one. The shoe is thus made 

 to slope inward, and is a little within the toe of the crust. 



The shape of^the hinder foot is somewhat different from 

 that of the fore- foot. It is straighter in the quarter, and the 

 shoe must have the same form. For carriage and draught 

 horses, generally, calkins may be put on the heels, because 

 the animal will thus be enabled to dig his toe more firmly 

 into the ground and urge himself forward, and throw his 

 weight into the collar with greater advantage ; but the calk- 

 ins must not be too high, and they must be of an equal 

 height on each heel; otherwise, as has been stated with re- 

 gard to the fore-feet, the weight will not be fairly distrib- 

 uted over the foot, and some part of the foot will materially 

 suffer. The nails in the hinder shoe may be placed nearer 

 to the heel than in the fore shoe, because, from the compar- 

 atively little weight and concussion thrown on the hinder 

 feet, there is not so much danger of contraction. 



DIFFERENT KINDS OF SHOES. . ^^ 



The following cut represente the proper form of shoe for 

 the off fore-foot, showing both the upper and under surfaces : 



