SHOEING. 



0/ 



tV( 



The nails should be left out of the hoof at the point wliere it 

 strikes, because the clinches are liable to become raised or loosened, 

 and do injury," 



Clicking, or Overreaching.* 



"This is a term applied to the striking of the hind shoes against 

 the forward ones during pi-ogression. It may be due either to a 



faulty conformation, to weakness, or 

 to disease. In seeking to remedy the 

 defect, Ave must endeavor to discover 

 its cause. If it is due to defective 

 form, we may so adjust the hoofs and 

 apply the shoes that the feet shall be 

 placed upon the ground in such rela- 

 tion to the body as to modify iu some 

 measure the fault of form. In some 

 cases the toes of the forward feet 

 must be reduced all that is possible, 

 and the toes of the hind feet length- 

 ened. In others, weights or heavj- 

 shoes upon the forward feet ansAver a 

 good pui'pose. In some, weights 

 upon the outside of the hind feet over- 

 come the difficulty. 



"If the hind feet are placed upon 

 the ground Avell forward when the 

 animal is at rest, heel calks of extra 

 length will be foimd useful. 



"Weakness, as a cause of clicking, 

 is shoAvn in colts and in horses that 

 haA^e diseased hind feet. In the first, 

 the animal is not able, or has not 

 learned, to dAvell upon the hind foot 

 to give to the body that forward im- 

 pulse that comes from the long push; 

 in the second, pain prevents the ex- 

 tension. In the case of the colt, shoe- 

 ing must be supplemented by good driving, — the animal should be 

 kejjt up to the bit, and the head Avell checked up, and should not be 

 fatigued by over-driving. In the case where the clicking depends 

 upon a diseased conditioii of the foot or leg, the removal of the 

 cause is the indication. As general rules for the prevention of 

 clicking, the toe of the forward hoof should be reduced all that it 

 Avill bear ; the shoe should be short, both at the toe and heel ; the 

 heels of the shoe should be bcA^eled at the expense of its ground 

 surface ; when the toe should be beveled, giving the shoe, when 

 applied, the appearance of one partly worn. In many cases con- 

 caving the ground surface of the shoe is useful. If the toes are 



Fig. 553. — Effect of injury caused 

 by interfering. From a speci- 

 men presented by Prof. 

 Cressy, of Hartford. 



* Contributed by Prof. McLeltau. 



