63 



7- Three-quarter Shoes. — When we have disease of, or injury to, 

 either outside or inside heels, as from corns, &c., a shoe is 

 made with a bar to lie across the frog, while the side of the 

 shoe next the damaged part is cut off to prevent pressure {sec 

 Plate XV., No. 7). 



8. Diamond-toed Shoes have diamond points, and are used on the 

 hind feet, to prevent the horse from "forging," or "clinking" 

 — that is where the toe of the hind shoe strikes the ground 

 surface of the fore foot shoe. A young horse, when first put 

 to work, nearly always acquires this habit of "hammer and 

 pincers," as it is commonly called ; but, as it gets into step, 

 this in time, leaves it {see Plate XV., No. 8). 



g. Feather-edged Shoes. — These are preventive shoes, and are 

 more frequently used on the hind than on the fore feet. They 

 are used for animals that buff themselves, by striking the 

 fetlock joint, or shank, of the opposite leg. Some young 

 horses are very subject to this. For treatment of these 

 bruises, see " Contused Wounds " (pars. 132 and 133). The 

 shoe is made with a feather-edge on the inside, tapering 

 inwards, on the ground surface, towards the frog ; nailed on 

 the outside, and round the toe. Indiarubber rings, leather 

 pads, or boots, and woollen bandages, are also used to protect 

 the opposite leg from further injury (see Plate XV., No. 9). 



lyg. In all cases where there is a good, healthy, well-formed 

 foot, with concave sole, the surface of the shoe next the foot ought 

 to be flat, so as to give a little pressure to the sole, and also to support 

 the union of the wall with the sole. In weak, convex soles, however, 

 the shoe should be seated so as to meet the requirements of the case. 



i8o. Preparing the Foot for the Shoe. — A young horse, when 

 first brought in from grass, should be put into a loose, open shed, for 

 ten days or a fortnight before shoes are applied to the feet. The 

 ground surface of the crust, or wall of the foot, should then be 

 levelled with a rasp, to make a good bed for the shoe, which should 



