684 



SHOEING. 



accomplished by this spreading, namely, the severe compression 

 upon the vasculai- structure and coronary ring will be immedi- 

 ately relieved, and 

 the sole, which in all 

 cases of this charac- 

 ter has been forced 

 up, as shown, to an 

 acute angle, will 

 straisfhten and let 

 down. To aid this, 

 the sole must by par- 

 ing be made so flexi- 

 ble that, as the foot 

 is opened it will set- 

 tle down and come 

 back to its natural 

 condition. The sore- 

 ness resulting from 

 the compression of 

 the parts will be re- 

 moved, and a better 

 condition of circula- 

 tion and nutrition re- 

 sult. By this course 

 the mobility will not only be restored, the horse travel with more 

 freedom and confidence, but as the hoof grows down it will be- 

 come thicker and of a better fiber. 



As before explained, to bring about a healthy condition of 

 circulation and nutrition, the frog must necessarily be given con- 

 tact with the ground to the degree it will bear, which should be 

 provided for by the thinness of the shoe. In some simple cases 

 nailing the shoe to the heel, as shown in Fig. 511, may be sufficient 

 to hold the quarters firmly enough to enable spreading them as 

 desired. The objection is that the wall is so thin at the point of 

 the heels, that it may be difficult to get a good nail hold without 

 pricking or breaking out; besides, the nailing cannot be repeated. 

 The nails should be small and driven very carefully, getting a?) 

 much hold as the horn will admit of. The supposed objection to 

 this plan of opening the quarters is, that it prevents their natural 



Fig. 513. — Badly contracted foot. The lines B show 



the degree to which the foot can be 



safely spread. 



