PARING THE FOOT. 229 



hensible practice, wliicli means cuttiDg away the sides of 

 the bars, so as to show an apparent increase of width be- 

 tween the heels, which may for the time deceive the eye ; 

 but it is a mere illusion, purchased at the expense of im- 

 paired power of resistance in the bars, and ultimate con- 

 traction of the feet. It is self-evident, that the removing 

 any portion from the sides of the bars must diminish their 

 substance, and render them weaker, and consequently less 

 able to resist, contraction. 



Youatt says, on the same subject: 



The act of paring is a work of much more labor than 

 the proprietor of the horse often imagines. The smith, 

 except he is overlooked, will frequently give himself as 

 little trouble about it as he can ; and that portion of horn 

 which, in the unshod foot, would be worn away by con- 

 tact with the ground, is suffered to accumulate month 

 after month, until the elasticity of the sole is destroyed, 

 and it can no longer descend, and its other functions are 

 impeded, and foundation is laid for corn, and contraction, 

 and navicular disease, and inflammation. That portion of 

 horn should be left on the foot, which Avill defend the in- 

 ternal parts from being bruised, and yet suffer the external 

 sole to descend. How is this to be ascertained? The 

 strong pressure of the thumb of the smith will be the best 

 guide. The buttress, that most destructive of all instru- 

 ments, being, except on very particular occasions, banished 

 from every respectable forge, the smith sets to work with 

 his drawing-knife and removes the growth of horn, until 

 the sole will yield, although in the slightest possible de- 

 gree, to the strong pressure of his thumb. The proper 

 thickness of horn will then remain. 



The quantity of horn to be removed, in order to leave 

 the proper degree of thickness, will vary with different 

 feet. From the strong foot, a great deal must be taken. 



