112 THE HORSE: ITS TAMING, 



down the edges of the walls, thereby keeping them 

 shapely and of a natural size ; but bring that horse 

 and compel him to work so many hours a day on 

 artificially constructed roads, pulling heavy loads (and 

 horses pull from their toes as a rule), where would 

 these natural feet be, that were only constructed by 

 nature to perform natural duties ? In a very short 

 time the walls would be crushed and split to pieces. 



I am quite prepared to admit that under certain 

 circumstances a horse can and may do work all his 

 life and never have a shoe on, and never require one 

 (we have many such in Australia) ; but the circum- 

 stances are few and far between, and can be explained 

 thus : — The strongest part of the foot is the wall ; this 

 has a natural growth, the same as our own nails have ; 

 there is no artificial wall required, such as the shoe 

 until the ivall is asked to do something it is not strong 

 or hard enough to do, or until the wear and tear upon 

 it is in excess of its natural growth. When this takes 

 place you must shoe your horse if you want to work 

 him. Hence the necessity — hence the benefit. No 

 shoes — no work. 



Now comes the best method of shoeing. The best 

 method, I take it to mean, is the best one for the 

 horse generally. That is, to a great extent, regulated 

 by circumstances. 



We will take the draught horse first His feet 

 are thumped upon hard stones all day, slipping from 



