316 ON THE TREATMENT OF HORSES' FEET, 



from any foot that is weak or much broken. With the 

 exception of any little detached parts, he should pre- 

 serve the horn as much as he can, with a view to 

 strengthen and support the foot to the utmost, by which 

 means he obtains a safer and more secure hold in the foot 

 for his nails. To give strength to the heels and quarters, 

 the toes require to be kept short ; but previously to re- 

 moving horn from those parts, the smith should see 

 what strength of horn he has there. Generally speak- 

 ins:, there is more horn at the toes of convex feet than 

 there is at the toes of horses' feet which are much 

 sti'onger ; yet care should be taken, (more particularly 

 if horses are to be kept in work,) not to remove the 

 horn from those parts to an extreme, as this would 

 occasion pressure on the nails. 



In case it is necessary, the shoes may be nailed 

 round the toes, or they may be secured by putting a 

 clip here. This latter mode is to be preferred when a 

 foot is not in a state to admit of nails being driven 

 sufficiently far back at the quarters, for the purpose of 

 keeping the shoe secure. 



Horses that have convex feet, have the largest and 

 most healthy frogs. It is only necessary to remoxe 

 from them any detached or ragged parts, so as to pre- 

 vent the gravel or dirt from accumulating there, and 

 producing thrushes. The foot cleaned out, and the 

 rasp run lightly round the crust to take the rough 

 edges off and level the foot, is all which is necessary 

 previous to the shoe being applied. 



Race-horses' feet, generally speaking, are very strong. 



