6i 



being concave, is flat. Horses with feet of this kind are 

 certainly useful, but they are best on farms. Such feet are 

 frequently affected with corns and bruises, and are difficult to 

 shoe {see Plate XL, No. 3). 



4. Dished Feet, or feet with Hollow Walls and Rounded 



(Convex) Pumiced Soles are somewhat similar to the last, 

 but more pronounced, and are more prone to bruises and 

 disease than any other kind of feet, requiring very careful 

 shoeing, with a shoe well seated on the surface next the sole 

 {see Plate XL, No. 4). 



5. Odd Feet.- — Curiously enough, these are often seen in racehorses, 



and, although one is smaller than the other, there is no 

 disease, and the small foot stands as much wear and tear as 

 its larger mate. These feet generally resemble varieties Nos. 

 1 and 2, Plate XL A horse's feet, however, may become of 

 different- sizes by frequently pulling the shoe off one of them, 

 which is done by the animal galloping round in a circle the 

 inside fore shoe being apt to be clinked off by the hmd one 

 on the same side ; and each time the shoe is replaced the foot 

 decreases in size ; still, there is no disease. But the foot may 

 also become smaller from disease. 



178. Again, different kinds of shoes are required, according to 

 the kind or breed of horse, and the work it has to do: — 



I. Racehorses require only a very narrow plate, covering the ground 

 surface of the wall, and but slightly overlapping the junction 

 between the sole and wall — or white line, {see Plate XV., 

 1 A and 1 B). The French or Charlier system meets these 

 requirements. In this form of shoeing, a groove is made 

 round the ground surface of the wall, into which the shoe 

 is fitted, there being no covering on the sole. It certainly 

 gives the frog full play ; but I am afraid it would not answer 

 for animals in use on our macadamised roads and streets. 



