00 ON THE STABLES, ETC. 



It has frequently happened under my own observa- 

 tion at the time of my living in the stables, that on the 

 smith's arrival to shoe a horse, and having cleaned out 

 his foot and made it perfectly level, he has found on 

 placing the shoe on the foot, that it did not exactly fit. 

 This is a thing which grooms are aware is not at all 

 uncommon, the shoe being at times too broad, or 

 what is worse too narrow, or perhaps too long ; the 

 former of these faults may be more easily rectified 

 than either of the two others, when the shoe is cold ; 

 but the proper way to rectify such defects, would be 

 for the smith to return to the shop, where, by heating 

 the shoe again, he may make it something better, but 

 even then perhaps not quite perfect. But the shop 

 may be a mile or more from the stables, to walk 

 which distance would occupy too much of the smith's 

 time ; therefore to save himself both time and trouble, 

 he alters the shoe and makes it what he calls "fit the 

 foot." If the shoe is too broad, he places it on the 

 ground, and if too narrow, on some more convenient 

 place, and by giving it two or three blows with the shoe- 

 ing hammer, alters a light shoe, either by closing or 

 widening it a little, as the case may require, leaving to 

 chance how the length may answer, or how the horse 

 may be able to go in the shoes thus improperly altered. 



I have known horses in strong work, go immediately 

 tender on the foot from their shoes being thus carelessly 

 put on, and the smith has been at last obliged to take 

 them off, return to his shop and heat them, in order tc 

 make the further necessary alterations. 



