Simple Rules for Shoeing. 209 



elasticity, and it resists shocks in a remarkable 

 manner. It conducts heat badly, and on these 

 accounts proves highly serviceable for protection, 

 while its constant growth, thickness, and insen- 

 sibility, admirably adapts it as a substance to 

 which an unyielding defence, the shoe, can be 

 applied. In shoeing horses' feet it is a mistake 

 to cut, burn, and rasp them so much as is usually 

 done. It must be remembered that scraping or 

 biting our finger nails renders them sore and 

 useless as a defence or means of prehension. 

 How much more then do we render the hoof of 

 a horse by these reducing measures, unable to 

 act as a means of defence and resistance, to bear 

 the weight, and hold the nails by which the 

 shoe is attached ? The better the foot, the better 

 must be the protection. The animal will perform 

 his work more readily and with greater safety, 

 and last the longer. Many forget the horse 

 has to carry weight beside that of his own body, 

 or compelled to draw loads and sutler concussion 

 011 the stones at a high speed. Then why cut 

 away from the foot that which the animal re- 

 quires so much ? Some say it is to prevent the 

 foot growing out of shape, but that is a mistake. 

 There is more mischief occurring (and nothing 

 causes a faulty shape as soon) from the practice 

 of reducing the hoof, that from any other plan 

 adopted. 



Each part of the hoof is possessed of different 

 properties. The outer part, the wall or crust, 



P 



