SHOEING AND THE MANAGEMENT OF THE FEET. 311 



is bent to its fullest extent, the foot is then in the same position, 

 with the heels of the shoe pointing" upwards. If we consider 

 this first part of the motion of the limb, we find the movement 

 of the foot very nearly describes a semicircle ; and on viewing 

 the form of the joints connected with action, the necessity for a 

 curve at the toe is clearly demonstrated : again, the form of the 

 shoe worn out at once shows that it must be more suitable to 

 put on a new one of that form, rather than to suffer the action 

 of the leg to be opposed until it is worn to that form. In the 

 second part of the action, when the foot comes to the ground 

 again, the quarters and heels touch first, and they are the only 

 parts occupied in placing it on the ground again. There may 

 be deviations from this general rule, as in those horses that have 

 bad action ; also when horses are drawing heavy weights it must 

 necessarily differ. The fore legs may be considered simply as 

 pillars of su[)port, having no power of themselves to propel the 

 body forward, progression being entirely performed by the hind 

 parts. If it were not so, the action would be different, as I 

 have before observed it to be in those horses that have great 

 Aveights to draw ; and this may be more readily observed in any 

 draught horse going up hill. I have offered these few remarks 

 upon action in order to bring the reader's attention to the curve 

 of the French shoe at the toe. This form of shoe certainly 

 harmonises more with the motion of the fore foot than the 

 English does ; it affords a greater surface of bearing at the toe 

 than the projecting ridge of the straight ordinary shoe, and is 

 much more calculated to allow of the motion of the leg and foot ; 

 the labour of the muscles is also diminished, and the limb being 

 in its natural position, the ligaments have less imposed upon 

 them ; they are more at ease, and consequently are not so liable 

 to be strained. The shape of the coffin bone is also another 

 proof of the Fi'ench system being more consistent with the prin- 

 ciples of nature than the straight ordinary shoe. If the coffin 

 bone of a fore foot be placed on a level surface, the quarters and 

 heels are the the only parts in contact with it, which proves that 

 they are intended by nature to meet the ground first (qujere, 

 Avhy the curvature of the heel of the shoe then ?) and to bear tiic 

 greater proportion of weight ; but if the quarters of the hoof be 

 removed (lowered, or diminished) to admit of the straight shoe, 

 the portion of weight intended to be borne on the quarters must 

 be thrown upon the heels ; and hence the great mischief whicli 

 ensues from the common (plain) English shoe." I perfectly 

 agree with Mr. Godwin as to the "decided superiority" of the 

 French method of nailing on the shoes ; but the curvature of 

 the French shoes towards the heels is certainly contrary both to 

 his own principles and practice, for he expressly tells us in the 

 foregoing quotation that the quarters and heels are intended by 



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