42 THE HORSE. 



make ilieni last a reasonablo time. Calkins on the shoes 

 aro bad. and should ahvays be avoided. 



In the case of young horses of the light class, the toe-clips 

 on the hind shoes are best dispensed ^yith for the first two or 

 three times the animal is shod. The too of the hind shoo nuij 

 with advantage be slightly fore-shortened, and the shoe must 

 be provided with side-clips, to take the place of the toe-cli})s. 

 This plan of shoeing m recommended, in order to avoid in- 

 juries to the coronets of the fore-legs from "'cutting" and 

 '■ over-reaching." Young horses are rather aAvkward in their 

 gait Avhen first put into harness or ridden, and they are a})t 

 to hit the fore legs with the toes of the hind shoes. 



The shoes should always be made sufficiently large 

 to fit the foot comfortably, and it is a very bad plan to use 

 small shoes, as many farriers do, and then to rasp away the 

 horn of the wall, in order to make the latter flush witli the 

 shoe. In the case of horses and cobs, which are worked at 

 fast paces, it is necessary that the heels of the fore-shoes 

 should not protrude beyond the heels of the foot : the heels 

 of the shoes must be Hush with the rear outline of the feet, 

 this being required in order to prevent the fore-shoes from l^einir 

 accidentally pulled off by a hind foot. It is also objectionable to 

 have the heels of the shoes longer than is necessary in the 

 case of team-horses, because if this is done, it will tire the 

 horses to pull the feet out of the ground when Avorking on 

 soft and sticky soil. 



When the hoofs are being prepared by the farrier, prior 

 to the shoes being applied, the sole and frog of the foot must 

 not be pared in any way, nor should the outside wall be rasped 

 after the shoe has been nailed on. The frog of the foot ought 

 to come into contact Avith the ground as much as possible. 

 The larger and more prominent the frog is, the better : if the 

 frog is pared by the farrier, it is sure to shrivel up in time, 

 and thrush will most probably make its appearance. 



Care of Feet — The chief point in the care of the feet 

 of horses is to shoe them properly and regularly. The hoofs 

 should never be alloAved to become overcrroAvn bv the shoes 



