R efeBiom on fioeing HORSES:. 353 



give that gentleman's fentiments on this 

 fubje6b, with fuch animadverfions as have 

 occurred to us. 



In order to underftand this new me- 

 thod of fhoeing, it is necellary firft to 

 premife the following obfervations, and 

 attend to the anatomical plates before re- 

 ferred to. 



It is mod certain, that all horfes, ex- Shoes not 

 cept fuch as have their feet overgrown, intended 

 or fuch as may have a particular occafion ^ ^^^^^* 

 of being fhod to preferve the fole, may, 

 at any rate, go without fhoes •, and there 

 are many examples, without mentioning 

 the cuftoms of Arabia, or Tartary, of 

 horfes who are daily at work, without 

 the leaft need of ever being fhod : but 

 as we employ all our care and addrefs to 

 hollow the foot, by paring it even to the 

 quick, and to form an exa£b fine frog, 

 it becomes abfolutely neceffary to fet fhoes 

 on them. 



The original defign of fhoeing horfes, Shoeing 

 was undoubtedly intended, as a preferva- firft con- 

 tivc of the hoof, and a defence, of the ^"^^^ ^* 

 fole; but no one fure could think it ^"^^^^^^ 

 leceflary to pare away what he wanted 



A a to 



