194 THE FOOT IN ITS RELATION TO THE ENTIRE LIMB. 



resembles an elongated wedge, the base lying towards the back, 

 the point extending forward as far as the heels are capable of 

 movement. 



The result of this friction is to reduce the heicrht of the 

 heels ; in unilateral friction, to disturb the balance of the foot, 

 to loosen the heel nails, and sometimes to produce pressure on 

 the inner and posterior portions of the sole. As an indirect 

 result we see increased wear of the shoe at the toe or outer 

 quarter. 



Wear of the Shoe. — To the practical farrier the wear of 

 the shoe affords valuable information. From a theoretical 

 standpoint it should be as regular as possible ; when this is the 

 case we know that the horse has usually a free gait, that he is 

 not suffering pain, and that he treads level, while his shoes 

 wear longer and — a great advantage — admit of being made 

 lighter. Such regular wear indicates skill in shoeing, though, 

 of course, it is impossible of attainment where the limbs or 

 joints are already deformed. 



Unequal wear is very common and may be variously caused. 

 Thus, the nearer any part of the shoe, such as the toe, the 

 inner or outer quarter, or one or other heel, lies to the centre 

 of the hoof, all other parts maintaining their proper position, 

 the more rapidly it wears ; on the other hand, by so fashioning 

 the shoe as to remove any part further from the centre, wear 

 is diminished and in proportion to the distance. The same 

 occurs when the shoe is badly made or nailed on, when it is 

 too wide at one spot or too narrow at another, or when the toe 

 is too lono- or too short. Even the form of the outer border of 

 the shoe has some influence, the part lying nearest the centre 

 of the hoof bearing a larger proportion of weight than portions 

 further removed. 



The shoe wears unequally when the horse treads unequally. 

 An uneven tread may be caused : 1. By faulty trimming, one 

 spot being left too high, or (which is the same thing) the 

 opposite being unduly lowered. 2. By an unsuitable shoe ; for 

 instance, one with toe-grip where no grip is needed, a shoe 

 with a narrow toe where the hoof is upright or where thrush 

 exists, a shoe too short for an oblique foot, or a shoe too 

 narrow and too finely holed in the outer branch for a foot with 

 in-turned toe. 3. By well-marked faults in the conformation of 



