THE HOOF. 



305 



need be no fear that the frog is too big. Horses which 

 have never been shod, have their frogs much larger, 

 their heels farther apart, and the ground surface of 

 their feet of greater area, than those which habitually 

 stand on iron. The cleft of the frog of a healthy foot 



Fig. 383. — Near hind tout of unshod horse (Jrds nat. size). 



(Figs. 382 and 383) is merely a slight depression in the 

 centre of the frog, and does not communicate with the 

 sensitive structures immediately above the frog. If the 

 wall be strong and the sole be concave, we may rest 

 assured that the horn whicli covers the sole is of sufficient 

 substance, provided, of course, that it has not been pared 



20 



