322 ON THE TREATMENT OF HORSES' FEET, 



recommend this shoe for horses that are in gentle work 

 in winter and spring, or for country plate horses that 

 are kept in large loose boxes during winter. I am of 

 opinion, that the feet of those horses last mentioned 

 would be much improved if short shoes were to super- 

 sede not only the use of long ones, but also the inju- 

 rious practice of altogether dispensing with shoes, 

 which was formerly a common custom on those occa^ 

 sions. Nor will the short shoes get into the feet, if the 

 horse is shod, or his shoes removed, at proper intervals ; 

 and provided also, that the centre of the web of the 

 shoe at the heels, is placed immediately over the wall 

 or crust of the foot, so that the latter may be in the 

 centre of the heels of the former when nailed on the 

 foot. The two first nail holes, punched in the short 

 shoes, one on each side, may be at a distance of an 

 inch from the centre of the clip. The other nail holes 

 may be placed at a similar distance ; but the spaces 

 between the nails must depend on the size of the foot ; 

 only observing, that if the horses are in strong work, 

 the last two nail holes should be punched within an 

 inch of the ends of the heels of the shoe ; but when 

 race-horses are in gentle work, or out of work, and 

 standing in loose boxes in winter, the shoes will not 

 require being nailed further back than is necessary to 

 keep them in place. At such times, three nails on 

 each side, I think sufficient to keep them secure. No 

 nails having been driven into the quarters and heels, 

 they will be sound and strong, and will have ex- 

 panded j so that, should it be thought necessary in the 



