ON PLATING RACE-HORSES. 331 



instances, that the cause of the diseased state of the 

 feet might be traced to a want of knowledge on the 

 part of both the groom and smith, and not to any ne- 

 glect of either. 



I have had the ordering and arranging of the plating 

 of a few horses in my time, some of which liave not 

 had the very best feet ; and as I have on such occasions 

 paid more than common attention to the subject, 

 I shall enter upon it, as far as I think necessary, to 

 explain to grooms, head lads, and countrj^ shoeing 

 smiths, the most advantageous methods to be adopted 

 in the plating of such feet as from peculiar circum- 

 stances may require much care and attention. 



There are many shoeing smiths in the country who 

 shoe horses very well ; but there are many of them who 

 have but little experience in plating horses, and what 

 is worse, as it frequently happens, they have the most 

 difficult feet to put plates upon. 



But I am of opinion, if grooms will take the 

 trouble (and I think they will) of paying proper 

 attention to the following remarks on this subject, 

 they may be enabled to give the country smiths such 

 precautionary instructions and directions as they see 

 necessary; and they may often suggest to them a 

 method of making the plates, and putting them on in 

 difficult cases, not only securely, but without laming 

 their horses ; for although, as I have just observed, 

 country smiths may shoe tolerably well, yet if they 

 have not had some experience in putting on plates, or 

 if proper directions be not given them, they may 



