THE HORSE'S FOOT: SHOEING, ETC. 101 



(6) Round or Rocker Shoes are something analogous to 

 bar shoes. They are very useful for weak feet, and 

 also in cases where there has been extensive inflam- 

 mation— laminitis. Their ground surface is formed 

 in the shape of a rocker, thin at heel and toe and 

 thick at the quarter, so that when the horse puts its 

 heel to the ground the foot rocks gently over, and 

 the animal is assisted very much in progression 

 (Plate XV., No. 6). 



(7) Three-quarter Shoes.— When we have disease of, or 



injury to, either outside or inside heels, as from corns, 

 etc., a shoe is made with a bar to lie across the frog, 

 while the side of the shoe next the damaged part is cut 

 off to prevent pressure (Plate XV., No. 7). 



(8) Diamond-toed Shoes have diamond points, and are 



used on the hind -feet, to prevent the horse from 

 ' forging ' or ' clinking '—that is, where the toe of the 

 hind shoe strikes the ground surface of the fore-foot 

 shoe. A young horse, when first put to work, nearly 

 always acquires this habit of ' hammer and pincers,' as 

 it is commonly called, but as it gets into step, this in 

 time leaves it (Plate XV., No. 8). 



(9) Feather-edged Shoes.— These are preventive shoes, 



and are more frequently used on the hind than on the 

 fore feet. They are used for animals that buff them- 

 selves by striking the fetlock joint or shank on the inner 

 side of the opposite leg. Some young horses are very 

 subject to buffing, and for treatment of the bruises, see 

 par. 131. The shoe is made with a feather-edge on 

 the inside, tapering inwards, on the ground surface, 

 towards the frog, nailed on the outside and round the 

 toe. Indiarubber rings, leather pads, or boots, 

 and woollen bandages, are also used to protect the 

 opposite leg from further injury (Plate X V. f No. 9). 



