634 



SHOEING. 



corns, or other causes of derangeuient, until after beino- shod; 

 also that the feet of the Indian ponies, though ridden and driven 



Fig. 434. — Showing the frog-band, or coronary ring. 



in the severest manner, without shoes, on the plains, and horses 

 that are worked in sections of country where the attrition is not 



so great as to re- 

 quire shoes, such 

 as Southern 

 Michigan, Illi- 

 nois, Iowa, and 

 other parts of 

 the South and 

 West, retain a 

 r em arkably 

 sound, healthy, 

 natural condi- 

 FiG. 435.— Model of hoof and shoe, made by writer in 1860. tion.* 



* It is claimed, and not without reason, that the feet of colts are not always in 

 a natural, healthy condition; that they are liable to grow out of shape, thus de- 

 stroying their natural adjustment and health, and that it is often necessary to ob- 

 viate this by trimming the hoof and properly adjusting a shoe. This tendency is 

 sometimes induced by hereditary causes, resulting from bad shoeing, or from bad 

 treatment in preventing such healthful freedom and attrition to the feet as would 

 keep the horn worn down. The writer's attention was especially called to this 

 point when in New York, in 1872, by the invitation of Dr. Bryden, a well-known 

 expert in the art of shoeing, to accompany him to witness his treatment of a colt's 

 feet which required treatment on account of undue confinement, and hereditary 

 tendencies to contraction. 



