278 TRAINING THE TKOTTING HORSE. 



tive part of the foot. In short, I found that on our 

 tracks the heel wanted some protection as well as the 

 toe. On a soft soil for jogging, for a horse not in 

 hard training or for a horse with contracted heels, 

 they are excellent, but are inadequate protection as a 

 rule in the wear and tear of constant track-work. 



In shoeing, the aim is to keep the foot elastic, 3^ield- 

 ing and natural. Be careful with the knife, cutting 

 onl}^ the horn of the wall. Leave the frog, the sole 

 and the bars alone. They will care for themselves. 

 When the foot is properly leveled, then fit the shoe 

 to the foot ; not the foot to the shoe. 



Shoeing, like everything else, should be looked at 

 from a common-sense standpoint. There are no Avon- 

 derful and unrevealed mj^steries about it. Keeying in 

 view what nature intended, remembering that the sole 

 purpose of shoeing is to afford protection, the simpler 

 the better; steering clear of quack smiths that know it 

 all and recklessly slash and rasp — these are the most 

 important precautions to be kept in view concerning 

 shoeing. 



