HORSE-SHOEING 181 



which case, the hind shoes require to have a clip at each side of 

 the toe— none in the middle— the hoof in front being allowed to 

 project beyond the shoe. The latter should have all sharp edges 

 carefully removed at this part, particularly in the case of 

 hunters. 



Clips, when judiciously placed, are of service in retaining the 

 shoe, and so permitting the number of nails to be diminished ; 

 but, as a rule, they should be as few as possible, as they are 

 sometimes a source of injury to the hoof, particularly if they are 

 situated in too close proximity to the nails. 



Varieties of Shoes.— Various forms of shoes have been from 

 time to time proposed with a view to prevent slipping, but only 

 those which have had their ground-surface grooved, beveled, or 

 "toothed," have met with any success. In recent times, an 

 American shoe— the " Goodenough "— has had wonderful qualities 

 claimed for it in this respect. It differs but little from the 

 common hunting shoe. It has several trivial projections cut on 

 the outer margin of its lower surface, which may prevent slipping 

 so long as they last ; but in a very short time they are worn 

 away, and then it has nothing to recommend it beyond the 

 ordinary hunting shoe. The shoe is made by machinery. 



Mr. Gray, of the Mowbray Works, Sheffield, has introduced 

 machine-made shoes faced with steel, and grooved into two or 

 more sharp ridges on their ground surface. When fitted, these 

 shoes are tempered; consequently they are harder than iron, 

 should wear for a longer period, and may thus be made lighter. 

 If their hardness does not cause them to be more slippery on 

 smooth pavement, when the ridges have become somewhat worn, 

 than the iron shoe, they should be an improvement, and prove 

 cheaper than those commonly in use. 



More recently, grooved and surfaee-er.t rolled iron bars have 



