CHAPTER XII. 

 Shoeing Competitions, 



The Agricultural Societies that have made horse- 

 shoeing competitions a feature of their annual shows 

 have distinctly done good to the art. In those districts 

 which have had the benefit of these competitions for 

 many years past, horse-shoeing is best done. In those 

 districts where no competitions have been held shoeing is 

 generally badly done. When the farrier takes a pride 

 in his work he is more careful with details. Provided 

 proper princij^les are adopted, no calling is more depend- 

 ent upon care in details for the best results than that of the 

 farrier. Competitions stimulate emulation amongst men. 

 Public appreciation, as displayed by the prominence 

 given to the art by the show authorities and by the 

 admiring crowd that generally assembles to see the men 

 at work, encourages a feeling of responsibility and grati- 

 fies the natural and honest pride of the workman. Very 

 few trades have suffered more from public neglect and 

 indifference than that of the farrier. 



The success of a shoeing competition depends almost 

 entirely upon the secretary of a show, unless that officer 

 has amongst his stewards an energetic horseman who 

 has grasped the importance of good shoeing and who 

 possesses some organizing powers. In this connection, 

 I may perhaps offer a word of acknowledgment for the 

 work done by Mr. Clay, to whose energy and skill the 

 Hoyal Agricultural Society has for many years been 

 indebted for the success of its valuable annual shoeing 

 competition. 



All the arrangements for the competition must be 

 completed before the work is commenced, and upon their 

 perfection depends the success of the whole thing. There 

 should, if possible, be two classes — one for heavy horses 

 and one for light horses. At large competitions, there 

 should also be a champion class. There are farriers who- 



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