SHOEING. 



73 



SHOEmO. 



Far more than is generally imagined does the com- 

 fort and health of the horse and the safety of his rider 

 depend upon shoeing. Horses used for carriage or light 

 harness work should have plain slioes on the fore feet, 

 and they should never be heavier than the work re- 

 quires. An ounce or two in the weight of the shoe .will 

 tell greatly at the end of a hard day's work. Having the 

 front shoes turned up, or calldns as some do, prevents 

 the horse from obtaining the assistance that nature pro- 

 vided in the frog, which must be left so far projecting 

 and prominent that it will be just within and at the 

 lower surface of the shoe. It then descends with the 

 sole sufficiently to discharge the function that it was in- 

 tended to do. If it is lower then it will be bruised and 

 injured; if it is higher it cannot come in contact with 

 the ground, and thus be enabled to do its duty. Coach- 

 men who cannot drive horses shod plain in front with 

 perfect safety should seek some other mode of obtaining 

 a livelihood. 



The hind limbs of a horse being the principal leverage 

 in propulsion, except in walking, the toe is the point on 



