96 HORSE POETEAITUEE. 



quired, and keep it in its normal condition. Those who 

 still stick to the first shoe I described will say that it is 

 the only one for a trotter, without deigning to give any 

 reason why it is so. The advantages I claim for the con- 

 tinuous rim or calk, are, that it is more like the natural 

 unshod foot, bringing the support where it is required, 

 directly under the wall ; that it gives a firmer hold of the 

 ground, enabling the animal to retain every inch he pro- 

 gresses, and adds to the confidence he has of not slipping, 

 so that lie strikes out boldly to the limit of his stride. 

 Should the track be very hard, there is less concussion 

 than where there is an inch and a half of flat metal to 

 meet it. Should it be inclined to cup or give, the con- 

 cavity gives a far better traction than the flat, with less 

 tendency to " pick up." In the mud, no one will deny its 

 advantages over the customary way of placing the points 

 only at the heel and toe. In preparing the foot to receive 

 this shoe, I may still be thought singular. I will give my 

 reasons, and until some one converts me to another plan, 

 by force of argument, I shall continue in my own without 

 the fear of ridicule, which has no better logic than a laugh 

 to carry its point. I suffer no part of the foot to be pared, 

 only the wall, and that is cut till it rests on the floor in a 

 natural manner. Great care must be taken that the pro- 

 per amount be cut from toe and heel to effect this. I 

 think the general error is in allowing the heels to be too 

 high. When it has been cut with the rasp and knife, a 

 smooth file finishes the preparation, so that there are no 

 inequalities to keep the shoe from touching every place. 

 When nailed on, the shoes must come exactly to the edge 

 of the hoof, in no case projecting the least beyond it. If 

 this fitting has been properly done, there need be no rasp- 

 ing or filing the horn to injure the outward coating and 

 destroy the elasticity of the hoof. 



sole is left just as nature made it, and we will try 



