182 HORSE-SHOEING. 



been introduced with some success for the manufacture of horse- 

 shoes. 



Material.— Machine-made horse-shoes have, unfortunately, never 

 hitherto proved successful, from the material of which they are 

 manufactured proving either too soft— when they were too rapidly 

 worn out— or too hard, when they had a tendency either to break 

 or induce slipping. 



We have remarked how important it is that the shoes worn by 

 horses should be as light as possible. It is generally a good plan, 

 if a horse wears his shoes more at one part than another, so that 

 they do not last a sufficient time, to weld in a small piece of steel 

 at that place, instead of thickening the shoe and making it 

 heavier. The latter method, which is that generally adopted to 

 save time, most frequently defeats its purpose— the increased 

 weight causing the animal to drag its feet heavily along the 

 ground instead of lifting them freely. 



Lightness and durability can only be attained by employing the 

 best material. 



Nail-holes.— The form of the shoe having been decided upon, 

 the position and shape of the nail-holes, as well as their number, 

 have next to be considered. 



The shoe ought to be attached by nails to those parts of the 

 wall where the horn is strongest and toughest. In the fore-foot, 

 these parts are in front and along the sides to the quarters ; there 

 the horn becomes narrow and thin, and the nails find less support, 

 and are nearer to the living textures ; this is more particularly 

 the case toward the heels, especially the inner one. In the hind- 

 foot the wall is generally strong towards the quarters and heel. 

 These facts at once give us an indication as to the best position 

 for the nail-holes. In the fore-foot, nails can be driven through 

 the wall around the toe as far as the inside quarter, and a little 



