106 THE FAMILY HORSE. 



growth at the toe renders the pasterns more oblique, and as a con- 

 sequence throws undue weight upon the back sinews, while too 

 great height of heels has a similar effect upon the joints of the ex- 

 tremities, by rendering them too upright. The front of the hoof in a 

 normal condition is at an angle of about 50 degrees with the ground 

 surface. Taking as our guide the foot of the animal that has never 

 been brought to the forge, and which in consequence, must be con- 

 sidered as a correct model, let the external wall of the hoof be 

 reduced nearly to a level with the firm unpared sole. The sole re- 

 quires no reduction whatever, and should be left untouched. Nature 

 provides, by a process of exfoliation, for any excess of growth. 

 Those who advocate the removal and paring out of the sole for the 

 purpose of giving a supposed elasticity to this part, forget that, by 

 so doing, they take away the natural defence against injury and 

 disease for which no substitute can be employed. The frog is also 

 to be retained in its full integrity, requiring neither paring nor cut- 

 ting, beyond trimming off the ragged masses. The almost universal 

 custom of destroying the natural buttresses which exist at the pos- 

 terior portions of the foot by cutting deep notches in them is as 

 irrational as it is barbarous. No process could be devised which 

 would lead more spe>edily or surely to the contraction and conse- 

 quent destruction of all the tissues of this region, than this " opening 

 up of the heels." No man has ever yet been met with who could 

 offer a satisfactory reason for this mutilation of the foot. Rasping 

 the crust of the hoof should never be allowed. The removal of the 

 external horny fibres exposes those beneath to atmospheric influ- 

 ences. They are not fitted for such exposure, whereby the crust 

 is weakened, rendered brittle, and liable to crack. Moreover, this 

 process of rasping removes the natural external polish which gives 

 such a beautiful surface to the healthy foot, and which no substi- 

 tute in the form of oil or blacking can supply. The very existence 

 of such a polish or varnish is ignored by many farriers, who merci- 

 lessly rasp the entire wall, and think to conceal their 1 gnorance by 

 giving it a coat of some so-called " hoof ointment." 



There are faults in the shoe most commonly employed, which 

 had their origin in its particular adaptation to the foot after this had 

 undergone more or less mutilation at the hands of the farrier, and 

 which have been retained more through custom than actual neces- 

 sity. In a state of nature we know that every portion of the foot 

 comes to the ground, and sustains its share of weight, and in the 

 shod state it should do the same as far as practicable. The shoe 

 should be beveled upon the ground surface in imitation of the con- 

 cavity of the sole. If the sole has been left without interference, 



