76 THE ART OF HORSE-SHOEING. 



There are two j^laces where injury from uneven 

 pressure is most likely to happen — at the toe and. at the 

 heels. 



In preparing a foot, the wall at the toe may, from 

 want of care, be reduced a little below the level of the 

 sole, or in making a shoe the inside border at the toe 

 may be left higher than the outside. In each case, 

 uneven pressure is placed on the sole just where the back 

 border of the shoe rests. In fitting a hot shoe, wherever 

 the hoof is unduly marked, warning is given that pres- 

 sure at that point must be prevented by altering the sur- 

 face either of the shoe or the foot. On a strong foot, the 

 knife may be used to remove a little horn; on a weak 

 foot, the alteration must be on the shoe. 



At the heel, uneven pressure is most frequent oh the 

 angle of sole between the wall and bar, where it causes 

 the so-called "corn" — a condition in the horse having 

 no analogy to the affliction similarly named in the human 

 subject. It is simply a bruise of the sensitive parts 

 under the horn. 



A bruised heel — a corn — is most likely to arise from 

 the use of a shoe too short, especially if fitted too close. 

 It may arise from a properly- fitted, shoe retained too 

 long on the foot and shifted from its proper bearing on 

 the wall to an improper bearing on the sole. A bruised 

 heel may also result from the use of a well-made shoe if 

 the preparation of the hoof has been faulty. Rule-of- 

 thumb directions to "reduce the heels to a level by the 

 use of the rasp, but on no account cut away any sole," 

 may result in injury. In a strong foot with an over- 

 grown sole it is easy to get a level surface and to fit on 

 to it a level shoe, but the horn of the sole does not remain 

 level. As it grows and flakes off, the portion between 

 the bar and wall is raised. If the weather be wet it 

 swells, and then, bound down by the shoe, it acts simply 

 ns a stone might, and bruises the sensitive parts within 

 by its uneven pressure. It is always safe and it is never 

 injurious to remove so much of the surface of this por- 

 tion of sole with the drawing-knife as will ensure no 

 uneven pressure on it by the shoe. 



