HORSE-SHOEING. 175 



We also know that it is advantageous to the whole foot and limb 

 to allow the sole as wide and general a bearing as possible ; so 

 that one part may relieve the other— the sole coming to the aid 

 of the wall, and the frog interposing to share the fatigue imposed 

 upon both, as well as to relieve the strain on the hinder parts of 

 the foot, flexor tendons and limb, and keep a firm grasp of the 

 ground by its elastic and adhesive properties. 



The shoe applied to the foot, then, should have its hoof surface 

 flat, in order that it may sustain the wall and as much of this 

 strong portion of the sole as its width permits. This is contrary 

 to the usual practice, which on]^ allows the wall to rest on a 

 narrow surface, and bevels off the remainder of the shoe to 

 prevent contact with the sole. Many years' experience of this 

 plane foot-surfaced shoe in various regions of the globe, and on 

 feet of every kind and quality, have proved the soundness of this 

 view. The foot is brought as near to a state of nature when the 

 greater part of its plantar surface supports the weight of the 

 body, as man can hope to achieve while submitting the horse to 

 an artificial existence. 



A light thin shoe is always preferable to a heavy thick one ; as 

 the narrowness of the metal insures a good foothold— in this 

 respect imitating the wall— while its thinness brings the sole, 

 frog and bars in closer approximation to the ground. 



It is impossible to devise a shoe that will successfully meet 

 every requirement. The heavy draught-horse, doomed to bring 

 into play every muscle in endeavoring to move and drag along an 

 enormous load, must have his feet differently armed to the hunter 

 or race-horse, with which speed is the chief requisite. Taking 

 into account the different character of the horny textures, it is- 

 none the less true, however, that the same rule holds good in all 



