Hind Feet Interfering. 



When the ankle of hind leg is interfered with by 

 the foot of the opposite leg, it is because the foot of 

 the leg on which is the afflicted ankle is wrong, it is 

 too high on the inside from the heel to the toe. This 

 gives the leg the appearance of " bow leg" (the con- 

 trary condition, too deep on the outside of foot, pro- 

 duces the ''cow hocked" formation) and the slant of 

 the foot makes it wind in to find a comfortable lay on 

 the ground in its action, with the consequence, 

 naturally, that it thus gets in the way of the opposite 

 foot in passing and is therefore hit by that foot. The 

 same when both ankles are interfered with, both 

 feet are too deep inside. Now it is foolish and not 

 productive of good results — for the sought for remedy 

 cannot be obtained by resorting to such means— to 

 build up the height of the outside, or lower side of the 

 foot, by the use of a shoe thickened on that side, 

 doing this will wrench the ankle joint. The proper 

 way to do is to lower with the rasp the surface of the 

 side that is too high, so that it will match exactly in 

 height the opposite of that same foot, and adjust a 

 shoe of equal thickness from heel to heel, except, of 

 course, where calkins are employed and they should 

 be placed on the shoe as directed under the head of 

 Calkins, How to Proportion, which see. 



Why Hind Slices Wear Irregularly. 



When the shoes on the hind feet wear away more 

 rapidly on the outside toe — a frequent fault with our 

 trotters and pacers — balance the foot and fit the shoe 

 snug at the outside toe, full— but a straight shoe, no 

 curling outward — at the outside heel and even with 

 the wall all the rest of the way around to the inside 

 heel. This will assist in balancing the action, for the 

 surplus iron at the wearing point will be lessened, 

 therefore less to strike the ground and gradually as 

 the foot, thus assisted in its action, becomes truer in 

 its motion, then the shoe can be fitted evenly all 

 around and will wear evenly. 



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