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invariably be a plain one, without the heels being turned up ; and, on 

 no consideration, must the shoe be applied too hot to the foot, for 

 although horn is a bad heat conductor, yet I have, on several occasions, 

 seen founder (Laminitis) produced through neglect of this caution. 

 In future shoeing, i.e., re-shoeing, the clinches ought to be carefully 

 turned back, and, if possible, each nail drawn separately, thus 

 preventing the crust being broken ; the rasp may then be run gently 

 round the sharp edges of the crust, and, as the foot always grows in 

 length at the toe (5^^ Plate XIII., Figs. A and B) — and very sparingly 

 at the heels- it must be shortened. This is usually done by 

 cutting a piece from the front of the wall, at the toe, but to this 

 method I have great objections. The foot should be shortened by 

 dressing down the ground surface from one quarter round the toe to 

 the other. This, when properly done, gives a level bearing for the 

 shoe, preventing pressure on the heels, without having to spring the 

 heel of the shoe. In paring the sole, only the rough loose flakes ought 

 to be removed, except in Navicular disease, where we have, from 

 continued irritation, an overgrowth of horn ; in which case the sole must 

 then be thinned, by paring the ground surface of the sole of the foot. 



181. Farmers, themselves, are very much to blame in not paying 

 more attention to their horses' feet ; no foot, no horse ; that is to say, 

 no matter how grand and good the animal may be otherwise, it is of 

 very little account, if it has not sound feet. Sometimes farmers allow a 

 horse to go three or four months without being re-shod, by which 

 time, the feet are so overgrown, and in such a state, that it takes 

 months to get them into form again. It would be much better 

 to take the shoes off altogether, and then the foot, with use, would 

 naturally wear away. Shoes are best removed once every four or six 

 weeks, and should never, on any account, be allowed to remain longer 

 than two months. 



182. Fitting the Shoe. — Before the shoe is fitted, the foot in many 

 cases requires a certain amount of trimming ; this should be done with 

 care and judgment. Then the shoe should be made to tit level, and be 

 a shade larger than the foot at the ground surface, continuing the 



