170 WINTER SHOEING. 



To prevent snow ' balling ' in the feet, specially narrow shoes, 

 or shoes with concave ground surfaces, are sometimes used, 

 whilst in other cases the entire ground surface of the hoof is 

 smeared with fat or soft soap. None of these means, however, 

 is perfectly effectual. The only reliable remedy is some form 

 of elastic pad. Among the oldest and best known are Hart- 

 mann's, then follow pads manufactured of felt, leather, cork, 

 straw, hemp, and gutta-percha. The last named, however, in 

 very cold weather become too hard, and then fail to act> 

 Sheather's pneumatic pad is also good. 



