SHOEIXG. 275 



readily apparent. The cuts on the next page 

 illustrate the idea. Fig. 1 showing the effect on the 

 pastern where the heel is too low ; 2, the proper angles 

 of foot and pastern, and 3, an excessively high heel ; 

 the joint thrown forward, and the natural s^jrlng of 

 the pastern lost. 



You observ^e that if the heel is allowed to grow 

 unduly high, the inclination is to knuckle ; if it be^too 

 low the direction of weight is thrown backward, and 

 the strain on the back tendons can be imagined. The 

 great aim is to preserve the natural level, and through 

 it the proper bearing and balance. 



We trim our colt's feet and shoe our horses every 

 three weeks, which will be found as long a period 

 as the feet can be allowed to go unattended to with 

 impunity. 



In all my studies and methods in training I never 

 forget to keep in sight a due regard for what is natu- 

 ral. Shoeing is unnecessary to the horse in his wild, 

 natural state ; it is artificial and unnatural, because 

 the domesticated horse is kept in an artificial and 

 unnatural state. It must, therefore, be regarded as a 

 necessary evil. But the foot of the horse, unprotected, 

 will not stand the battering of turf-training; there- 

 fore, the prime and sole object of shoeing is to afford 

 the wall of the foot protection against the terrific 

 concussion of fast trotting on more or less hard 

 tracks. 



The next consideration is to make that protection 

 as light and uncumbersome as consistent with efficiency. 

 So, at Palo Alto, we shoe our horses all pretty much 

 alike, with a plain, light, simple shoe, such as is shown 



