113 



THE ART OF HORSE SHOEING. 



seen in dry brittle feet, and the horses most subject to 

 them are those employed in heavy draught work. Rail- 

 ■way shunt-horses and omnibus horses are very liable to 

 be troubled with sandcracks in the toe of the hind feet. 

 In shoeing for this defect, there are two things to 

 avoid: (a) not to place any direct pressure on the part; 

 (&) not to fit a shoe which will tend to force the crack 

 open. Following these lines, it is well not to put a clip 

 exactly over a crack. If at the toe, i^lace a clip each side 

 of the crack, and never use calkins or high heels, which 

 throw the weight forward. If at the quarter, avoid a 

 springdiceled shoe which permits the downward move- 

 ment of the foot behind the crack and so forces it open. 

 In all cases, after fitting the shoe level to the foot, remove 

 a little more horn just below the crack, so as to relieve 

 the direct bearing on the part. (Fig. 84.) 



Fig. 84. —Horn removed to 

 prevent pressure. 



Fig. 85.— Bearincr relieved at wronErplace- 



by ' spriiigiug-" the heel. 



In the case of crack extending the whole space of the 

 wall, some provision should always be made to keep it- 



mimMmm. 



Fig. 86.— French cHp In quarter. 



Fig. 87.— Clips in toe. 



from opening, because every step of the horse, especialljr 

 when drawing a load, causes an outward pressure at the 

 coronet. This pressure forces the hoof apart, and the. 



