168 



WINTER SHOEING. 



later dilate the holes so that the crown of the cog conies in 

 contact with the shoe ; the cog then becomes loose and eventu- 

 ally lost. It is of little importance whether in transverse section 

 the shank is elongated, rectangular, or oval, though it is very 

 necessary that the measurement from side to side should greatly 

 exceed that from before to behind. 



The breadth, thickness, and length of the shank may vary 

 within considerable limits, according to the weiglit of the horse 

 and its work. In heavy horses, to which toe-cogs are most 

 applicable, the shank may be |^ to |- inch broad, |- inch in 



thickness, and |- inch in length ; for 

 lighter liorses j\j inch in breadth by |- 

 inch in thickness and -L inch in length, 

 thickness, and breadth measured close 

 below the head. 



(a) Toe-grips with elongated rectan- 

 gular shanks (fig. 139). These are 

 manufactured of steel, about -J inch in 

 breadth and ^ inch thick. The shank 

 is first forged, the head then formed on 

 an anvil with an oblicjue face and so far 



I'IG. 139. — Transverse section of ^,,1. 4-K„^,,^r, ^ ^ l 4-^ ^ • i 1 • 



toe of grip-shoe for draught ^ut through as Only to rcquu^c breaknig 

 ^^^^^' off, warming to a white heat and placing 



in a mould of the necessary sha|)e, in wliich a few light blows 

 of the hammer suffice to perfect the form. 



To change these grips a thin double-jawed lever with wedge- 

 shaped head (see fig. 102) is driven between the shoe and grip, 

 which is then loosened by a few blows on the shoe. 



Shoes intended to carry these toe-grips must be somewhat 

 thicker than usual at the toe. Heavy shoes should be from 

 |- inch to I inch and light shoes from 1 inch to -f inch thick. 

 This prevents dilatation and loosening. The dilatation of the 

 opening for the toe-grip is peculiar and does not occur when 

 cogs are used. It is produced by the enormous pressure to 

 which the toe is exposed, especially in hind-feet, for which 

 reason toe-grips should be formed of a more conical shape than 

 cogs. 



After the clip has l^een drawn, the hole for the grip is 

 punched from the ground towards the hoof surface and the 

 burr thus produced on the foot surface filed away, a drift being 



