448 HORSESHOEING. 



but should always be careful in fitting and driv- 

 ine the shoe as instructed. 



A shoe should never be fitted tightly, unless 

 the coffin-bone has too much play ; then it should 

 be fitted tight around the toe and each quarter, 

 as far as the nail-holes extend back, in order to 

 contract the foot, and bring the coffin-bone to its 

 proper place. Such cases are, however, very 

 rare. 



The heels of the shoe should never be allowed 

 to curve inward toward the frog, and the foot 

 should be prepared so as to prevent any pres- 

 sure from the shoe on the heel, in the manner 

 shown by Plate No. 14, at the same time 

 allowing the bearing of the shoe to be perfectly 

 equal. 



If the horse has a long foot it should be 

 shortened on the toe as much as possible — the 

 more the better — for the hoof grows out more 

 quickly at the toe ; and it is necessary, because 

 in a case of this kind the coffin-bone is necessa- 

 rily out of its proper position, and the operation 

 of shortening the toe must be continued until it 



