138 



HORSE-SHOEING. 



of these is the direction in which the wall grows in a healthy 

 condition. 



Viewed as it stands on a level surface, the hoof may be said to be 

 somewhat conical in shape, its upper part being a little less than its 

 base ; and although, geometrically, its shape may be described as the 

 frustum of a cone, the base and summit of which have been cut by 

 two oblique planes — the inferior converging abruptly behind toward 

 the superior — yet the circumference of the hoof does not offer that 

 regularity which this description might imply ; on the contrary, in 

 a well-formed foot, we find that the outline of its inferior, or ground 

 border, is notably more salient on the outer than the inner side, 

 giving it that appearance which has been designated the " spread." 



pa 



A cone being intersected by two planes oblique to its axis, and not 

 allel to each other, gives a good idea, nevertheless, of the obliquity 



/ / 



Fie. G. 



which formed so marked a feature in the hoof. The degree of 

 obliquity of the front part, or toe, and of the upper surface, varies 

 with the amount of growth ; but where this has been counterbalanced 

 by a proper degree of wear, it will be remarked that this obliquity 

 corresponds to the inclination of the pastern-bones immediately above 

 the hoof, when the horse is standing. 



It will be obvious that this inclination also varies with the 

 breeding of the animal and the conformation of the limbs, so that 

 no definite degree can be assigned. But it must be pointed out, 



