PREPARATION OF THE HOOF, 35 



"^e compare Fig. 19 with Fig. 20, we see the effect of 

 leaving the heels too high. The bearing surface from 

 heel to toe is shortened, the slope of the wall at the toe 

 is made less, and more weight is thrown upon the front 

 parts of the foot. 



Now, these alterations in both cases affect not only 

 the form of the foot, but its relative position to the leg, 

 and as the bones of the limb above are a series of levers 

 connected by muscles and ligaments so placed as to be 

 most efficient for movement, it is evident that alterations 

 of the foot must affect the action of the limb. (Compare 

 Figs. 19, 20 and 21.) In the unshod horse roaming 

 about, there is a natural automatic return to proper rela- 

 tive position whenever it has been temporarily upset. 

 A long toe is worn down and high heels are reduced to 

 their proper level by friction. Not so a foot protected 

 l)y an iron shoe. Wear is stopped, and a disproportion- 

 ate hoof becomes more and more disproportionate. Tem- 

 porary alterations of the position of the foot do little 

 }!.arm, because they are permitted, within a margin, by 

 the movement of joints and by the elasticity of muscles. 

 When, however, an alteration of position is continued 

 for many weeks, it tends to become permanently fixed, 

 and may thus do a great deal of harm, which is not 

 traced to its real cause, because the effect is slow and 

 gradual. It is important, therefore, to remember that 

 the proportion of the hoof is to be maintained, not only 

 because it is necessary to the well-being of the foot, but 

 because it affects the action of the whole limb. Too 

 long a toe may cause a horse to stumble, and it must 

 always increase the strain on the back tendons during 

 progression. Heels too high prevent the frog from tak- 

 ing its proper bearing on the ground, and thus cause a 

 loss of function in the back parts of the foot. An exces- 

 sively high heel has a tendency to throw the knee for- 

 ward and to straighten the pastern. . 



It is impossible to lay down any hard and fast rule 

 to guide a farrier in maintaining the proportions of 

 heel and toe, when reducing an overgrown hoof to 

 proper form. Feet differ much in their natural forma- 



