318 ON THE TREATMENT OF HORSES' FEET, 



smith from removing any portion of horn from that 

 part of the foot which is under them. 



Jf the bars and the horn which is under them be 

 removed, the substance of the foot in those parts will 

 be much decreased, and the heels will then very soon 

 contract if the horse is in an artificial state. The horn 

 being removed from the surface of the sole of a strong 

 foot as I have here advised, the next thing the smith 

 has to do, is to make the wall or crust of the foot per- 

 fectly level, so as to produce an even surface to receive 

 the shoe. 



• I am not prepared to state how shoes for race-horses 

 are now made ; but I very well remember, that those 

 M'hich were formerly in use were very light and narrow; 

 and I conclude that the object in making them in that 

 manner was merely to prevent the horses' feet from 

 breaking. I am decidedly of opinion that such shoes 

 are very improper for any horse, but more particularly 

 for such race-horses as are obliged often to be kept in 

 strong work. Light shoes must be nailed with four 

 nails on each side of the shoe, and these nails must be 

 driven further back towards the heels than is necessary 

 with shoes of more substance and greater width. Un- 

 less light shoes are put on in this manner, they are apt 

 to spiing a little at the heels when a horse is going a 

 rapid pace on a hard ground; and if this is not imme- 

 diately attended to, they soon become loose and are 

 thrown. This is not the only inconvenience ; for, 

 from these shoes being nailed so far back, the quarters 

 and heels of the horses' feet become, as it were, fixed 



