122 



HORSE SENSE. 



the foot to be interfered with in preparing it for the shoe, and all the 

 trimming that is necessary can, and ought to, be effected by means of 

 the rasp. The frog and sole should, on no pretext whatever, be meddled 

 with, save to the extent indicated. 



THE KNIFE, RASP AND LARGE NAILS ALL INJURE THE 

 FEET OF THE HORSE. 



"As the work is too often done, all over the country, the foot is 

 pared to such an extent that it is robbed of its cushion, its natural ex- 

 pander; its lateral braces (bars) removed; its sole mangled, and its natural 

 repair arrested; the hair-like fibres which make up the horny wall crushed 

 and deflected, and their nutritive function impeded by an unnecessary 

 number of nails. Robbed by the rasp of its cortical layer of natural 

 varnish, which retains the moisture secreted by nature, the strong walls 

 become weakened, and the foot is in a very sorry plight indeed." 



Fig. 1. 



Fig. 3. 



Fig. 2. 



Cut No. 54. 



ILLUSTRATION OF GOOD AND BAD SHOEING. 



Fig. I, Cut No. 54, shows the foot well prepared and properly shod. 



Fig. 2, Cut No. 54, represents the wall cut down in front to make 

 the foot fit the shoe. 



Fig. 3, Cut No. 54, is where the heels have been cut down and the 

 toe allowed to grow entirely too long. One about as bad as the other. 



RESULTS OF GOOD AND BAD SHOEING. 



"Fig. I, Cut No. 51, shows the only parts v.hich should be reduced 

 ■when a foot is properly prepared for the shoe. Sufficient care is not al- 

 ways given to shortening the hoof, so that its angle should conform ex- 

 actly to the inclination of the limb. It would be misleading to lay down 

 any arbitrary degree of obliquity." 



THE CHARACTER OF THE WORKMAN OF VITAL IMPORT- 

 ANCE. 



Too much importance cannot possibly be attached by the workman 

 to this and the succeeding step, namely, leveling the ground surface of 

 the foot, as the slightest departure from absolute exactitude here renders 

 whatever amount of care he may devote to the completion of his work 

 worse than useless. 



