Draft Horses. 



Cut numbers 27 and 28 show a proper form of shoe 

 for use on Draft Horses' feet. It will be noticed that 

 the calkins are not as deep as those usually used and 

 of course will not wear as long, but the saving of 

 strain to the animal with the result of his being better 

 able to more fully utilize his powers, with the much 

 lessened chances of his becoming strained and lamed 

 will more than compensate for the tew dollars of extra 

 cost in re-calking his shoes a little oftener than has 

 been the custom. The shoes should not be made so 

 heavy, about one-half to three-fifths of the weight of 

 iron usually used will be found suflScient and if the 

 shoes are made narrower, never over one inch in 

 width, but of usual thickness, they will wear just as long 

 and the animal's joints, tendons and muscles will be 

 saved much wear and jar in consequence. The nails 

 should be driven at the places in the shoe as on cut, 

 the last nail never further back towards the heel than 

 shown, except in the excessively broad and conse- 

 quently weak formation of foot, and directions for the 

 placing of them in shoes for such a foot, as also the 

 clips necessary, are described in the directions for 

 shoeing the foot, shown in cut number 13, which see. 



One of the most frequent and serious faults in the 

 preparation of the feet of our Draft Horses is that of 

 allowing them to become too deep in the front— often 

 also, too long at the toes — and of too little depth at 

 the heels. This fault is more frequently noticeable on 

 the hind than on the fore feet and causes a great 

 strain to all of the joints, tendons and muscles of the 

 propelling power. Study carefully the discriptions of 

 proportion as given under No. 4, for they are to 

 govern in the preparation of the feet of all horses, 

 and for whatever service used. 



54 



