AND ON SHOEING. 301 



state, they are not so niucli deformed, nor at all times 

 so deficient of horn, as many of the draught horses I 

 have mentioned. However, all such feet generally 

 require to be well furnished with iron. The breadth 

 and substance of the shoes must be regulated accord- 

 ing to the size and weight of the horse, and to the 

 sort of work in which he is engaged. And vuiless such 

 horses are shod under the superintendance of an expe- 

 rienced veterinary surgeon, or by a good shoeing smith 

 in high practice, their feet soon get out of order. 



My method of having cavalry horses shod that 

 have convex feet, is, to shoe them often ; but I never 

 allow the soles of their feet to be pared to a greater 

 extent than is absolutely necessary until the crust or 

 wall of the foot has grown down. This is to prevent 

 their soles from further protruding,, which has been 

 brought on by their being kept too weak. To give 

 strength to the heels, I have the toes kept short ; and 

 if I see it necessary, I order bar shoes to be applied 

 on one or two occasions, or until the wall or crust has 

 grown and become sufficiently strong. When that is 

 accomplished, I order plain vshoes of a substance and 

 breadth equal to the weight of the horse. 



Such feet seldom require to be moistened by the 

 application of water, but for the purpose of promoting 

 the growth of the horn and keeping it tough. Tar 

 ointment is the best application I am acquainted with ; 

 it is composed of equal parts of tar and mutton suet, 

 or lard. This ointment, as well as the ointment, yel- 

 low basilicon, have been long in use with grooms and 



