HORSE-SHOEING. 153 



Fig. S, a, c) ; but thence to the ground it passes along the pastern 

 and foot (c, d)— the extremity of the lever— and these are inclined 

 more or less obliquely forward ; hence the charge imposed on the 

 limb has an incessant tendency to increase this obliquity by 

 bringing the fetlock nearer the ground (6). To resist this ten- 

 dency, however, we have the two flexor tendons and the powerful 

 suspensory ligament at the back of the limb, which support this 

 joint and maintain its angle. 



But it will be readily understood that the longer and less 

 upright this lever is, the greater is the strain and fatigue thrown 

 upon the tendons and ligament. Though an oblique pastern may 

 look graceful and make the horse's step more elastic and agree- 

 able to the rider, yet when the degree of obliquity exceeds that 

 intended by nature, great risk is incurred of injury to the sup- 

 porting apparatus. Hence the necessity for maintaining the hoof 

 at its normal angle — a necessity, however, which can never be 

 met except at the moment when the animal is newly shod ; for no 

 sooner is the equilibrium restored between the front and back of 

 the hoof and the shoe fastened on than it begins to |be disturbed 

 again. This inconvenience is inevitable, from the very nature of 

 the means we adopt to defend the foot from injury. 



On the other hand, the suspensory apparatus is less severely 

 taxed, as the lever is short and vertical ; or, in other words, as 

 the pastern and hoof are upright. But this, though relieving the 

 tendons and ligament, throws the weight too directly on the 

 T3ones ; consequently the jar to these and the whole limb is great, 

 and even dangerous, while the back parts of the foot are unduly 

 strained to relieve them. 



It must be, then, very evident that levelling and bringing the 

 ground-face of the hoof to the necessary length— equal on both 

 sides from toe to heel, and justly proportioned in depth at toe 

 and heel— is no trifling matter, as the soundness of the limb and 



