94 



THE ART OF HORSESHOEING. 



fitting, and we have conditions wliicli only tlie very 

 strongest feet can endure without serious injury. 



For heavy draught liorses, and for all where the- 

 roads are hilly, the toes as well as the heels must he 

 *' sharped" when ice and snow are firm on the surface. 

 Fig. 08 shows this arrangement at the toe. The remov-- 



FiG. 68 —Toe sharp. 



able steel "sharps," of which I have spoken, are cer- 

 tainly the least objectionable method of providing foot- 

 hold in winter. They are made in various sizes to suit 

 all kinds of shoes. They vary in shape somewhat, but 

 their form is more a matter of fancy than utility. One 



Fig. 69. — Removable steel sharp. 



in each heel of a shoe is the usual number used, but if 

 snow and ice are plentiful and the roads hilly, two addi- 

 tional ''sharps" may be placed at the toe of the shoe. 



At the time of fitting the shoes, holes are made bjr 

 first punching a round hole through the heels — and 

 through the toe if desired; then the hole is "tapped" and 

 a thread formed to fit it in the shank of the sharp which 

 is to fill it. If the sharps are not immediately wanted,.. 



