CHAPTEE 11. 



WINTER SHOEING. 



Tx order to oive the horse a better foothold when the 

 roads are covered with ice and snow, special shoes or special 

 modifications of the ordinary shoe, which at other times would 

 be superfluous or even injurious, become necessary. 



These additions or modifications varv according; to the 

 severity of the weather and the work required of the animal. 

 They are all comprised under the collective term ' roughing,' 

 though the special styles are too numerous for detailed descrip- 

 tion here. Therefore only a few of the more practical will be 

 noted. 



In the far north, where snow lies deep and winter weather 

 continues for several months, simple methods of roughing may 

 be employed, though in more changeable latitudes these would 

 soon be rendered useless by contact with the hard ground. 



All systems of roughing at present in use are more or less 

 imperfect. The chief objects to keep in view are briefly 

 summarised below. 



(1) Simplicity. — No system can ever succeed wliich is not 



simjyle of execution, or in which the farrier is required 

 to use many special tools. Furthermore, the applica- 

 tion of the ' rough ' must be an even simpler matter 

 than the preparation of the shoe, so that any stable- 

 man may affix it. Finally, the ' rough ' must be easy 

 to remove. 



(2) Rapidity in the preparation of the shoe and the affixing 



and removal of the ' rough ' is almost as important 

 as simplicity of application, especially in the army. 



(3) Economy must be kept in view, as the expense of 



roughing a large stud during a long winter would 

 otherwise prove excessively costly. 



