SHOEING. 535 



ened, and the secreting parts stimulated towards a new 

 l^roduction. These kind of feet, however, mostly have 

 large prominent frogs, and at them the smith usually cuts at 

 freely ; but the sole and frog should have nothing but the 

 ragged portions removed ; and the wall only be pared away 

 to the extent which the old horn has been pushed down- 

 ward. This, however, is pretty well understood, and you 

 may trust the horse within any respectable forge without 

 fear ; only these kind of feet, more than any others, require 

 to be shod wdth leathern soles, which protects them against 

 those injuries from stones, &c., to which they are too much 

 exposed. 



Another prejudice you must be careful from indulging, 

 is that of insisting that your horses be sent home looking 

 smart about the feet. This is usually accomplished by the 

 rasp, and where this instrument is much used, the best 

 judge cannot tell at a glance whether the shoe be fitted to 

 the foot, or the foot has been rasped away to make it fit the 

 shoe. Rather forbid the use of the rasp, save to remove 

 the projecting ends of the clenches ; and have the feet sent 

 home moderately in the rough, rather than they should be 

 too much reduced, and polished up with a coating of lamp- 

 black, tar, and train oil. In conclusion, when your groom 

 or coachman makes any remarks prejudicial to the smith, 

 listen with patience to all that is said. Should the man be 

 moved by malice, or a desire to remove the shoeing (from 

 which the servant mostly has a consideration), he will 

 betray it if left to himself. If you detect any such lurking 

 bad feeling, rather change your servant than your smith ; 

 as it is better for your interest that you should be mode- 

 rately treated by a stranger, than that those who are in 

 your confidence, and immediately about your person, should 

 plunder you. Besides, a man wdio would play tricks with 

 the horses' shoes, is not a person to be trusted with their 

 corn ; and he who would cheat you to the horses' injury, 

 would not mind profiting by putting your animals upon a 

 full allowance of hay. 



The various kinds of shoes required for particular cases 

 will be hereafter specified ; and we have preferred penning 

 these few pages of advice, rather than repeating that which 

 has been often said. 



